ISLAMABAD, Dec. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- American troops assisting in relief and rehabilitation operations will leave Pakistan's earthquake-hit areas in March next year, U.S. Ambassador Ryan C Crocker said on Sunday.

    There are over 1,000 U.S. personnel in Pakistan to "assist with relief efforts," according to the U.S. embassy.

    Crocker announced the withdrawal of the soldiers during a visit to the quake-hit areas in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), private Geo TV reported on Sunday.

    The television report quoted Crocker as saying that he had discussed the issue with Pakistan's relief commissioner and the understanding is that the soldiers will leave Pakistan by the end of March, 2006.

    However, the Ambassador said that the U.S. forces could stay if a request was made and if they were needed there.

    Crocker visited U.S. soldiers in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Shinkiari, a town in the NWFP, and exchanged Christmas greetings with them, according to the report.

    A U.S. Army mobile army surgical hospital operating in Muzaffarabad and a U.S. Combined Medical Relief Team operating in Shinkiari have provided urgent medical care to over 9,000 injured people, the report said. Enditem