ISI chief lands in Washington
According to sources, General Pasha met with Ambassador Haqqani and defense officials at the Embassy of Pakistan immediately after his arrival.
The ISI chief General Pasha is scheduled to meet his CIA counterpart Acting Director Michael Morell tonight, where they are expected to discuss intelligence cooperation.
Earlier on Wednesday, the ISI Chief General Ahmed Shuja Pasha had left for a one-day visit to Washington, DC.
According to sources, the ISI chief will be meeting his counterparts to discuss intelligence matters during his one-day consultation meeting, while a CIA spokesperson officially declined to comment on the story.
The Embassy of Pakistan had also issued a statement saying that they do not comment on intelligence matters.
This will be General Pasha's first visit to the United States since the Abbottabad raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, sparking tensions between both the countries.
The visit comes just days after the White House officially confirmed that the United States had put on hold $800 million in assistance to Pakistan, of which nearly $300 million was for coalition support funds, while $500 million had been allocated for military equipment and trainers. Following the Abbottabad raid, the Pakistan Army had asked the US military trainers to leave the country.
The ISI has come under renewed criticism in various circles in Washington DC. In June this year, former CIA director and now Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta visited Pakistan, amidst reports that the United States had provided intelligence to their Pakistani counterparts on bomb-making factories that had been cleared before the military could inspect the factories.
Following journalist Saleem Shahzad's death in Pakistan, the ISI was also accused of being responsible for Shahzad's kidnapping and subsequent murder. A recent editorial in the New York Times also called for General Pasha to step down as a result.
Pasha to meet with Morell
According to the Associated Press, General Pasha is due to meet the CIA Acting Director Michael Morell during his visit here.
When asked if General Pasha would be meeting anyone at the State
Department, Mark Toner, the deputy spokesperson for the State
Department, said that he did not believe so, but would have to look into it.
The CIA declined to comment on Wednesday about General Pasha's visit.
COMMENTS (47)
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@fajim bilwany:
This Arabisation of Pakistan is not alien to Pakistan but yes definitely this "liberalisation" is alien to us....and people like you are few in Pakistan that is why liberals are afraid to come out openly. you will not find any place of your ideology in Iqbal's poetry which has moved the masses for creation of pakistan. My suggestion is that you find yourself another country and live happily.
Johnny, Johnny !
Yes, papa
Telling lies?
No, papa
Open your mouth ....Ha Ha Ha !!
@maqsood: "If we are the people of Islamic Republic of Pakistan then why we need AID from the West. "
Very simple. Pakistan is broke. Without American aid and support, Pakistan will not financially survive for even a year.
He has to to tell US that you cannot afford to stop support fund otherwise you may have to face the bells.
@Pakistani: Does it matter if he is Muslim? If you disagree with a statement he is making explain the area of disagreement. Attacking his personal belief system is not the way to go about proving a point
It is normal guys, cool down. He is only going there to personally congratulate his new counterpart.
Anyone remember the last time he took a brief trip to Washington --- things quickly escalated downhill. It will be interesting to see the fall out of this meeting - perhaps this is the guy who sends Washington the notice to "pack up and leave".
He should go but one thing is there that he should not compromise over the national interest which he knows better than us. Rather then apologizing over the statements which he made earlier in NA session, he should give a strong and staunch message to American Forces. We are liberal people and we should be careful about national security rather then accepting American dollars.
I agree with Arijit sharma. But this war will not end even with the death of Dr.Alzawahiri. The war will continue.
@Pakistani: what difference does that make. Is it impossible to exchange views on a news article without questioning someone'e right to express an opinion based on the person's religiious beliefs?
The fact he his heading to Washington for talks isn't important --- what is said during that meeting is. Unfortunately it's unlikely that we get much (if any) feedback on the meeting.
People this visit was already scheduled before the announcement of suspension of aid. Please clear your thoughts. Stop being negative!
Dear Folks at Washington. Can you please keep him there? Thanks
@fajim bilwany: Are you muslim?
General Pasha was described by Time magazine as one of the current hundred most influential persons in the world. General Pattreus is America's most recognised strategic security thinker and mover that has emerged from the US Army in the recent past. Despite the anti Americanism prevalent in the middle class and elitist Pakistani circles. The facts are quite evident. Pakistan has been described as a near failed state by a number of institutions that have a bearing on where Pakistan can go from here. America is aware of the vulnerblity of its supply line necessary for a gradual withdrawal of its current large contigent in Afghanistan as well as the minimum deterence force that will eventually be required to maintain its presence in line with its long term goals in the region. While Pakistani Strategic thinkers are aware of the long term imperitive need to return to a significantly healthier and continuously growing economy. The Pakistani goals are not achievable till the Pakistani economy can be transitioned to a peace rewarded economy. For this the Chinese may have a role, but ultimately Pakistan cannot be supported on the same scale as the American economy even under stress can do so. America for the purpose of avoiding an unnecessary two failed states in this region with the presence of extremists, particularly when one is nuclear armed has no option but to continue to work with the real current power wielders in Pakistan. Eventually since both countries have at a minimum very important complimentary common goals the two Generals will have to learn to work together with each other.
In Islam maximum three days are allowed to be angry with your friends, after three days a muslim must resolve his differences. Two days for statements and one day for travelling.
@YAMYAM "....Because those who kills innocent peoples could not be called Muslim anymore."
Hi brave, why dont you tell this to Taliban and AlQaeda on their face that they cannot be called muslims. Otherwise keep this bakwaas to yourself.
Why is he going? What does he think he represent?
hey friends tell me why Islamic Republic of Pakistan needs US aid??? they are not Muslims. actually their is a lot of confusion in our mind.. Our people still don
t know why we are fighting this war... we started this war.. trained these Jihadies & now we need US aid to save our country... our army is grabbing our whole budge but they are totally unable to save this land... even they cant save themselves in their own homeland..........Clinton Sahiba wanted to have hot chai & pasha rushed carrying it!
Why you people including ET creating conspiracy theories!
ET journo's are jewish agents with Islamic names! Proof: they dont have beards, including women
presumption, presumptions and presumptions...this show what a negetive mentality we have. US has announced draw down date. Pakistan have an important part to play in all this. weather we like US or Not we have to coordinate things so that we dont suffer. Hats of for the elite of this country who failed in every field and now its westernize children defame their own country to show they are modern and ANTI_LECTUALS.so before giving verdict , criticizing or just cursing or showing ur bias see the ground situation .
@Ali Khan: "come on Generals…. no mercy no surrender… let block the nato root from pakistan and let them cry for toilet papers.." And US is going to let Pakistan's Jugular i.e Karachi Port Open for long. Plus UAE where a lot of Pakistani oil comes from has a big US base. They don't even have to go anywhere to cut Pakistani supplies off. A single drone strike on Sui pipeline will cut the gas off too. Whats going to happen when there is no petrol, gas or electricity in the whole country. I bet Pasha will personally drive NATO trucks to Afghanistan border then.
God bless the ISI and Shuja Pasha
Isn't it strange that a press release issued from Islamabad about the departure of the ISI DG has been posted with a Washington dateline by the Washington-based reporter of Express Tribune, Ms. Huma Imtiaz. Such a report would show newspaper's clumsy approach towards journalistic ethics and cannon of journalism.
why american are meeting directly with the defense persons of Pakistan? Is there any new game, like so called JIHAD in late 70
s & 80s, being played? General Ahmed Shuja Pasha have taken the oath, to be loyal with his country & protect the ideological boundaries of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. If we are the people of Islamic Republic of Pakistan then why we need AID from the West. It clearly shows how much confused we are in the Ideology of Pakistan.After the 140th Corps Commanders' meeting yesterday the Army was all courage and told the nation in very clear terms that even conditional US aid is not acceptable. And even before the ink on the statement could have dried the Army has again taken a U-Turn and sent the ISI head to the US. It is understood that Pasha has not gone there to threaten anyone but in all probability to apologize for the "misconduct" shown by the Army in the recent times. One wonders as to when our leaders and the Generals will have sufficient courage to stand tall before the nation and tell the truth...just plain truth.
He is going request Americans "Please don't stop our Dollars, we can't live without you and your dollars"
I don't know anything about RAW chief but I can get each and every information about ISI chief on the newswebsite. Funny!
the whole nation is fed up with ISI and any such visits. after OBL raid, no intelligence agency enjoys public support. even people call them burden for the nation. seconldy, ISI chief's visit to US not of any interest. because he is not a public representatvie. he may go to afghanistan by diverting media attention towards his US visit. thidly, the media should not give any coverage to such event.
@fajim bilwany: Not Islamic terrorism. That is a Terrorism Only spread by Talibans and AlQaeda for which Pakistan and its alliance are fighting. Because those who kills innocent peoples could not be called Muslim anymore.
What is important is who is he going to meet and what are they going to talk. The Americans seem to have come around to the view that action speaks louder than words. I am not too sure that sending someone who lacks credibility in Washington is a great idea. Finally it seems that tightening the liquidity tap is having some effect, whatever the public posturing may be. Pakistan has wasted all the good cards it had to play, now it is left with only dummies. Expect nothing in terms of results.
come on Generals.... no mercy no surrender... let block the nato root from pakistan and let them cry for toilet papers..
whose who let themselves bullied ARE ALWAYS BULLIED
Anyone remembers HMV gramophones, BTW what is HMV
Vienna,13-07-2011 It is new beginning with General Petraeus as CIA chief,General Pasha as traditional Pakistani ISI chief. May be there is a scope for opening new door for exchange. Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense is not unusual for the U.S.Let us hope General Pasha makes a break through in communication with U.S. without shouting at and returning abruptly as he did last time. --Kulamarva balakrishna
@Adeel qadri and @Pragmatist
Stoppage of US aid is good it will reduce corruption within army and will make our army as OUR army and not a hired gun of US.
But it doesn’t mean we completely disengage with US. US is present in the region with more then 150,000 strong armed forces with incomparable high tech weaponry, 20% of Pakistan's export goes to US and unlike china Pakistan's export to US is in favour of Pakistan, Means in term of dollars we export more to US and import less from US. US are the centre of modern high-tech knowledge and industries and will remain for foreseeable future.
And above all! Unlike Iran we don’t have petro dollars to sustain our adversaries with US. Even economic power china can not go all out against US.
Be realistic and pragmatic, emotionalism and ghairat will not solve Pakistan's problem. We need a calculated and well planned strategy to deal with US.
strange in other story of tribune its saying corecomanders has said that they will do every thing without america and no need of of $800 and now it is saying ISI Chief is went to America to meet his BIG BOSS ... To whom we belive in this country ? what are that inteligence matters which are not can be discussed to HOTLINE between GHQ AND CIA.. Very strange ............... very strange ........ Allah help those who help themselves . Is our Army has forget this ...
OMG! a one day visit?
umm.... no offense but... couldn't they get some tech equipment to arrange a telephony video conference between D.C and Islamabad? save costs AND time???
Just a suggestion.... =/
Perhaps that is the best way of playing on both sides of the fence,outcries for those who yearn for them and absolute docility for the others.The best mixture of authority and hypocrisy.It is just shameful!
Come on guys. I agree that our military AND civil bureaucracy need to answer a lot of our questions and that too continuously. However, in demanding answers from them we don't necessarily have to take on a sarcastic mind-set. We all need to work together, take responsibility together, hear each other real well and try to correct ourselves by ourselves together, hopefully without letting things reach such a stage that the outside world has to tell us we are nuts
why is he going to the states? he should stay put and fight the good fight against islamic terrorism.our establishment's support and funding of the islamist barbarians is the reason our society is the mess it is today.our unhealthy and extreme fixation with religious rituals and rattafication in arabic has created a society of people who can't think rationally and critically.we love to pretend that we are arabic or persian,all this abayas,hijabs and whiskerless beards are all alien to our culture.
This arabisation of pakistan must stop.
@adeel qadri: going to beg for the money?
Nope - the purpose of the visit is to co-ordinate the capture of Al-Q #2 - A.A.Zawahiri.
What happened to all the threatening noises that the Pakistani Military and ISI were making? I thought they were preparing to use Chinese arms. Maybe they did a quick military exercise and realized that Chinese arms are good only to look threatening in photographs.