Local report says Pakistani spy chief called on US to stop drone strikes in country
Pakistan's intelligence chief Ahmad Shuja Pasha has reportedly asked the United States to stop its drone strikes in the country, the local Express Tribune reported on Sunday, touching on an issue that has become more sensitive since the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden strained ties.
The daily said that the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director made the request in a meeting on Saturday with CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell. "We will be forced to respond if you do not come up with a strategy that stops the drone strikes," Pasha was reported to have told Morell.
Islamabad condemned the killing of bin Laden as a violation of its sovereignty. The bin Laden case has severely strained already uneasy ties between allies Washington and Islamabad.
Pakistan's government publicly says the drone strikes are counterproductive and inflame sentiments that fuel militancy.
Meanwhile, several Pakistani officials reached by Reuters said they had no information on the meeting reported by the Express Tribune.
Yet, military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas reiterated that the US drone strikes are harmful. "With the drone strikes our stance is very clear - they are much more harmful than they help," Major General Abbas said. "With the CIA and the ISI it is also very clear - it (the CIA) should be sharing with them (the ISI) what the number of operatives here is, and where they are working, what they are doing, that sort of thing."
Morell also met operational leaders of the ISI and members of its counter-terrorism division. "Both sides are reported to have discussed a way forward that would involve the US stopping its drone strikes and expanding joint US-Pakistan operations against militants," said the newspaper.
Morell asked if progress had been made in determining who may have been involved in supporting and protecting bin Laden in the garrison town of Abbottabad, said the Express Tribune. Pakistan has said there was no collusion with bin Laden.
