Joint US-Pak intelligence operations suspended since January
April 11th, 2011 - 6:26 pm ICT by ANI
Islamabad, Apr 11 (ANI): A senior Pakistani intelligence officer has said joint US-Pakistan intelligence operations have been frozen since late January.
Bilateral relations between the US and Pakistan soured following the March 17 drone attacks on a peace congregation in North Waziristan Agency.
The Raymond Davis episode, a CIA contractor who shot dead two Pakistanis on January 27, has also played a major role in creating tension in both countries. Consequently, Pakistan had to evolve a new visa policy for foreign visitors to ensure that no harm was done to the country’s national security.
Previous joint operations between the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the CIA had led to the capture of high-profile Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the mastermind of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States. However, it was halted after Davis killed the two men in Lahore.
“Presently, joint operations are on hold,” The Dawn quoted the Pakistani intelligence officer, as saying.
“The agency`s ties to the ISI have been strong over the years, and when there are issues to sort out, we work through them. That`s the sign of a healthy partnership,” CIA spokesman George Little said.
The revelation that armed CIA contractors like Davis are working in Pakistan, have deeply annoyed the ISI.
“It is our land. We know how to tackle things. We will set the rules of the game. It is not Afghanistan. They have to cease spying operations,” a senior Pakistani military official said. (ANI)
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Tags: bilateral relations, cia contractor, cia spokesman, drone, intelligence officer, intelligence operations, inter services, isi, islamabad, joint operations, khalid sheikh mohammad, military official, north waziristan agency, pakistanis, peace congregation, raymond davis, rules of the game, september 11 2001, terror attacks, visa policy