U.S.-Pakistan spy talks called productive
By Pam Benson
The first meeting between the head of the Central Intelligence Agency and his new Pakistani counterpart was labeled "substantive, professional and productive" by a senior U.S. official.
CIA Director David Petraeus and Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Zahir ul-Islam met Thursday at CIA headquarters in suburban Washington in an effort to bring the contentious relationship back on track.
The U.S. knows little about Islam, who rose through the ranks of the Pakistani military before being appointed to head the ISI in March by Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
The Pakistani government has been reassessing its relationship with Washington after a number of high-profile incidents last year, particularly the U.S. raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, of which the Pakistanis had no prior knowledge, and the accidental killing of Paksitani soldiers operating along the Afghanistan border by U.S. airstrikes in November.
The missile strikes by CIA-operated drones against suspected terrorists in the tribal areas has also irked Pakistani officials who publicly say the country's sovereignty is being violated and there are too many civilian casualties associated with the attacks. The U.S. has rejected the accusations.
According to a senior Pakistani intelligence official, Islam was expected to urge the U.S. to end its drone strikes and provide the Pakistanis with target information so that their forces can hit suspected terrorists.
The senior U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions would not comment on the specifics of the meeting, but said the discussions between Petraeus and Islam "provided an opportunity to discuss a number of proposals for how we can enhance our joint efforts against terrorism."
The official added, "Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together to counter the terrorist presence in the region that threatens both U.S. and Pakistani national security."
Last week, a U.S. official told CNN the United States "supports the Pakistanis taking more responsibility for ridding the tribal areas of al Qaeda and its militant allies."
Without getting into specifics, the official said there were actions Pakistan could take to get rid of al Qaeda and the Haqqani network, a Pakistan-based militant group that launches strikes against U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan.
During a trip to Afghanistan in June, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the Pakistani government needs to do more to root out the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network. Panetta emphasized U.S. frustration with attackers crossing the border from Pakistan and called on Pakistan to stop "allowing terrorists to use their country as a safety net in order to conduct their attacks on our forces."
"We have made that very clear time and time again and we will continue to do that, but as I said, we are reaching the limits of our patience," Panetta said.
The U.S.-Pakistan relationship has improved somewhat since Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apologized last month for the airstrike that killed the 24 Pakistani soldiers last year.
The Pakistanis responded by reopening the supply routes to Afghanistan that they had closed down in retaliation for the deaths.
CNN's Nasir Habib contributed to this report.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
david p. you are no cia director, they have been watching you and you are FIRED! they like me better. Special Agent Wallace this is no game. Game of Death yes.
pakistain, you guys are nasty and filthy. leaving slim from your fingertips on metal patreaus you have been ifiltrated big time and you not me invited them IN.
This guy looks like a pedophile.
Mahatma Gandhi and Jerry Sandusky: Strange Bedfellows
What do these two have in common???? Terrorizing boys !!!! Shame. Let us bring their memories down and their legacies trashed. Let us knock their statues down and their thoughts erased.
Terrorism and Pakistan:
What do these two have in common????
America and terrorism; what do these two things have in common?
Hindus worship cows is well known. Did you know that they also worship monkeys (hanuman), elephants (Ganesh), rats (mount of Ganesh), snakes etc.? For all the intellect that human beings were given, Hindus decided to make themselves subservient to crawling animals!
Muslims marry first cousins is well known, but did you know Paki Muslims are also allowed to have relations with young boys under fine South Asian muslim tradition called "Butccha-Bazzi"? Google it.
Hi. My name is sam. I'm looking for a good time. Must love war and have a small tool.
Get yourself couple of wild pigs from Pakistan!
"The U.S. knows little about Islam"..............so true.
The road to peace in this world is paved by the blood of Pakistanis. Nobody should ever forget that.
And don't forget James, that we ourselves killed off the lion's share of those dead Pakistanis with those ungodly drones of ours! Obama and the whole Washington crowd need to be indicted and brought to trial as the very war criminals that they are!!!!!
You forgot Bush(s) and Cheney et al.
James Jones you are right that Pakistan deserve that but remember Pakistan as a state and a nation at this stage is due to you all in USA because it was either our military dictators stupidity in prefering America over USSR or they were extra ordinary enthusiaistic in believing that America will prove saviours before the mighty India. Now 64 years friendship is at a stage Jones wherein Afghanistan has been occupied and now you think with Pakistani blood you will complete your all regional designs. This is what Americans do to their friends at last then Jones who will trust you as no state on this earth can do what Pakistan has done for America. How you forget that today you are a lone super power with the blessing of same Pakistan. Jones look at your home. We were thr most peaceful nation and people but your Americans global strategic designs have made us like this which you now wish to see finished in such mserale way.
My point is that Pakistanis have made inordinate amount of sacrifices with little to show for. The world [particularly Americans] need to get behind Pakistan and come up with a Marshall Plan for this nation. @krm1007 says it best when he enumerates these Pakistani contributions and sacrifices. America owes its freedom to Pakistan.
just talk about peace road in Pakistan Dog.
These are historic days ! It is a gesture of utmost magnanimity and generosity by Pakistan to continue to enable us American and NATO friends and allies to achieve common goals by offering their national resources and standing with them shoulder to shoulder. They are our partners and we share a unified vision in addressing the challenges facing the world. Together we shall prevail.
Once the US elections are out of the way the relations with Pakistan will normalize whether Republicans or Democrats win.. Obama is exploiting for reelection bid. He should be calling UHaul if you ask me. One term Prez.
Once the Pakistan elections are out of the way the relations with Maxico will normalize and we would be able to sell more Tequilas to Pakistan.
woo hahaha got ya all, I was just kidding, we hide Osama from you guys. woo hahaha woo hahaha
The denuclearization of South Asia (Subcontinent) particularly India is imperative.
Quid pro quo transfer of nuclear technology by USA to third world countries such as India needs to be opposed on moral grounds. Billions of people live in that neighborhood and would be at risk from such catastrophes which I am sure the American people would not like to be a party to. We are all well aware that that region is prone to floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and of course terrorism placing such nuclear installations at tremendous risks. US Congress is urged to reconsider and cancel all the agreements for the transfer of such technologies due “Force Majeure”.
I wouldn't give Indians nuclear know how even to cook fries.
hey Mohammad, Karim "1007" Khan here, did you get you'r paycheck yet? These Paki embassy aaa sholes are holding my checks for two months. I am quitting my job next week bro, screw them.
Together we shall prevail, as we have done in the past while overcoming insurmountable odds. After all, the Americans and Pakistanis share common values and history in the struggle for their Independence and their fight for survival.
God Speed. "In God We Trust".
Americans need allies like Pakistan who have the Chutzpah of standing up extreme odds in the region and making a positive difference.
WOOO HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA WOOO HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
are you kidding me?
Why are we even chatting with this terrorist? Just throw him into Guantanomo.
Beacause he is holding you by the balls. And you are afraid he may squeeze.
I agree. Lock Petraeus up.
Much to the chagrin of India, US and Pakistan have figured out that India is tryinjg to create schism between them. They are on the mends. Thanks Russia for making the realization happen.
hey spaghetti, f k these people man- I am quitting my job, I haven't seen a dime in two months. H ell with this fake CNN posting job. See you in Islamabad bro!
Pakistan and its people are backwards, ignorant, and lacking understand of the world beyond their village. Pakistan can not even police within its own borders. In the mountain regions, Pakistan police and soliders are fearful of the war lords and Taliban. Has Pakistan ever done anything right? Won any war? Created any advances in art, medicine, science, civiliation? No! I do not understand why Pakistans are proud of such a horrible place to live.
Ok...you are wrong and ignorant...just to educate you, I will give you one example for each of the things you mentioned...there are many examples but I think one will be enough to make a point;
Done antthing right? Created a country
Advances in Art? Does the name Sadquain mean anything to you
Advances in Science? Think Abdus Salam
Addvances in Medicine? Look Omayya reservoir up...may be go on wikipedia
Won any war? Consider the war of 1948
Here s the point...It does not make it true just cause you say so. Some of us actually know.
The Opposition forces all spilling out from Pakistan the U.S should have ultimately deployed there not Afghanistan, most of the high valued targets were captured or killed near or in Pakistani territory, Even the reports of U.S and allied soldiers F.O.Bs being fired on from across the border is even another indication.
US war mongers, not the common american, are interested to find scapegoats for their mollification. World knows that all todays prominent so called terrorist groups among the Muslims were nourished by the americans themselves. Why US could not dream the pangs then, when it was hatching the TERRORISTS against USSR????????????
Better Pakistan, than Israel.
hey bro I am quitting my job. I am getting tired of this fake CNN posting job. And one correction, Israel is better; dump Pakistan.
America cannot stay on the Asian soil even a bit without the help of Pakistan. Pakistan is facing governance chaos due to blind support of the states. Instead of boasting the Pakistanese' moral, the americans are keen to despise them.
DG ISI will bring outl that if these air attacks continued, the US policy of liberalism and democracy could badly fail, giving a greater incentive to the fundamentalist and extremist elements in Pakistan. Such a faulty policy is likely to result in more recruitment of militants in FATA, and will bring more subversive acts in Pakistan, ultimately damaging US interests in the region at this hour when US needs Islamabad’s help for stability in Afghanistan.
It would serve US goals better to meet with civilian Police Chief instead of the Intel ISI Chief. Give the police means and resources to catch bad guys. Much better returns for US in the long run.
What would one expect this bozo Petraeus to say anyway? Of course he's going to call these talks productive!!! After all, the U.S. is paying the Pakistani officials bigtime! And so the killing go on and on and on............
Do not trust Pakistan.
keep sending the Pakistanis money they are like mafia, a cancer is growing larger and larger of deception, hatred, and murder....
sorry mate, US wants to play in a backyard owned by Pakistan, you have to pay for it, nothing is free, and this is a lesson learned by Pakistan at the start of 90s. US is free to wait for the glorious pull out but then do not complain about the cost