Three dozen visas for CIA officers

Visas part of an agreement to rebuild counterterrorism efforts by forming a joint intelligence team.


Express June 23, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Pakistan has pledged to grant more than three dozen visas to CIA officers as part of confidence-building measures following the US raid in which al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and humiliated Pakistan, officials from both countries said on Wednesday, but the visas have not yet been issued.


An Associated Press report says that the visas are part of an agreement to rebuild counterterrorism efforts by forming what Pakistani officials call a joint intelligence team, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

The agreement was reached after talks in Islamabad between ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha and CIA officials, including Leon Panetta, the officials said.

The visas will help replenish CIA staff on the ground, as some staffers were forced to leave when their visas were not renewed in the aftermath of the controversy over CIA contractor Raymond Davis, the US official said.

There will also be some additional officers allowed in to join the joint intelligence effort to hunt high value al Qaeda targets, the official added.

Despite promises from Pakistani officials, the visas have yet to be issued, officials from both sides said. The Pakistanis say it’s simply a matter of time but would not say when they would be given.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd,  2011.

COMMENTS (34)

naeem khan | 12 years ago | Reply How in the world Zardari,Kayani,Pasha.Malik,jilani and other NROd are going to keep their ill gotten money in US,UK and Swiss banks, and sure enough that Pakistani ambassador to US is in cahoots with them and if anyone thinks that Mr.Haqqani is coming back to Iive in Pakistan ,they are living in the dreamland.I recall one obnoxious lawyer in New York City said few years ago about Pakistanis that they will sell their mothers for money.Well, the above mentioned gentlemen are selling the country for money. Thousands of Pakistani soldiers and civilians has been killed on behalf of US war on terror but still US congress and Hillary Clinton are mouthing off and smarting against Pakistanis.One BIG REASON IS THAT THE RULING CLASS IN PAKISTAN HAS NO SELF RESPECT OR SHAME. How could Zardari stay as President, it is just mind boggling.In the US, the citizens,post men and businesses are empowered to report to the police any suspicious activities of foreigners and specially middle eastern looking people, it does not matter whether they are innocent or not.It is time that Pakistanis should start doing the same to European looking people and report their movement constantly to the authorities. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY PAKISTANIS COULD MONITOR AND CURTAIL THE ACTIVITIES OF CIA.THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.CITIZENS GOT TO GET TOGETHER NOW BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ARMY HAS SOLD OUT THE COUNTRY.
Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply The deal is done by our beloved, blessed and "Innocent" ISI that's why its legitimate and makes sense in the name of NATIONAL SECURITY. If it would be done by a civilian govt, it would be a furor and an act of treason. Why don't we accept that our armed forces are basically business entrepreneurs whose only interest is to make DOLLARS in the name of NATIONAL INTEREST. O' I forgot what i am saying could make me the next Saleem Shahzad.
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