ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker has said that US troops, who are assisting in relief and rehabilitation operations in quake-hit areas, will leave Pakistan in March.

“Over 1,000 US troops are participating in relief activities in quake-hit areas and they will return home after the completion of relief work there,” Mr Crocker told a private TV channel.

The US envoy said that he had discussed the issue with Pakistani Relief Commissioner and reached an understanding that US forces would leave Pakistan by the end of March.

However, he said, US forces would stay longer for relief work if the Pakistan government requested them to do so.

Meanwhile, addressing US Marines on the occasion of Christmas in Muzaffarabad, Mr Crocker said that as Pakistan helped US in war on terror, US would also provide full assistance to it in relief work underway in quake-stricken areas.—Online