Pakistan, US intelligence chiefs to meet in August, discuss drone strikes
It is the first time in a year that the chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) will make the trip, signalling a thaw in relations after US troops found and killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May 2011.
Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam, who was appointed in March, "will visit USA from 1st to 3rd August. This will be a service-to-service bilateral visit," the statement said.
"He will meet his counterpart General David Petraeus, director CIA."
The short statement gave no other details, but a senior Pakistani security official earlier told AFP that the pair would discuss counter-terror cooperation and intelligence sharing.
Islam would also demand an end to US drone attacks against the Taliban and al Qaeda, and again ask for the means for Pakistan to carry out the attacks instead, the security official said.
It had been expected that Islam would visit the US in late July. It was not immediately clear why that trip did not happen.
Islamabad has been increasingly vocal in its public opposition to the drones. Pakistan's leaders had quietly approved initially but now say they are a violation of sovereignty and insist they fan anti-US sentiment.
US officials are understood to believe the attacks too important to give up, although the number declined as relations between the nominal allies plunged to their lowest in a decade.
But on July 3 Islamabad agreed to end a seven-month blockade on NATO supplies travelling overland to Afghanistan after the United States apologised for the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers in botched air strikes last November.
The resumption of NATO traffic has been temporarily suspended over fears of militant attacks.
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Happy sight seeing and shopping for the Pak delegation but no agreement is likely on drones and NW.
There were meetings of Pakistan's Army chief and the Chief of the ISI with the US authorities In the past and present because the relations between Pak Army and US government are very strong and agreements between the military institution and US administration since the relations established between US and Pakistan no relationship between people and government of Pakistan last year Kerry Logar bill was rejected by Core commanders of the Pak Army neither elected Assembly could do nor Elected government so nothing new in this meeting Sartaj Hussain
Happy shopping and sight seeing for the Pakistan delegation but concrete agreements should be expected.
@ Muhammad Ahsan KHAN,
To confirm payment of coalition support fund of which 70% goest to military and 30% to federal government.
To tell them that when we sold our ego,honour,diginity for USD 1 billion why you are not paying us, release the payment.
Please ask them to cordon the border and to install the fence at the border against Pakistan... before leaving the Afghanistan.
Also, don't forget to thank them for their Civil & Military Aid of Million of Dollars they are giving to Pakistan.
" You w'ont stop the drones? OK, then, we give you permission provided we give you the target. OH! please do'nt get upset, in reality you can decide your targets."
A thirsty person goes to a water tap. A sick man goes to a doctor. A beggar goes to a generous person.
In what capacity the Pakistani General is going to meet the American General?
I think it is to seek some FAVOUR.
Vienna,July 29,2012 Until Pakistan proves it has complete sovereign control within its geographical borders, the U.S.will not stop its drone strikes. I have no briefs to speak on behalf of the United States, but anonymous sources assure me since they are not authorized open their mouths, it was a policy decision taken at the highest level. The idea is to make Pakistan accountable to its sovereignty. There is no room for sovereignty without the responsibility of accountability. Taravadu taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
It can be stopped once US is assured that Pakistan is honest in its fighting against terrorism and would take action against Haqqani Terrorist Network.
waste of time effort and money and media space.... nothing will change.... however good luck to all.
Pakistani nation is completely against the drone strikes which has killed m ore innocent people than the militants.
Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam's visit will become fruitful only if he will convince the US that drone strikes should come to an end completely with immediate effect.
WHAT? To discuss drones attacks? more than thousands of innocents have died because of drones yet we'll first discuss it. JUST TELL U.S to stop these attacks. They are counter-productive and increasing extremism.