HOUSTON, TEXAS: Inter-services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam had a busy first day in Washington DC on Wednesday during his first official trip to the US.
Highly placed sources told The Express Tribune that the ISI chief met top Congressional leaders at a dinner at Pakistani Ambassador Sherry Rehman's residence. Staffers familiar with the matter said that the dinner guests included Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chairperson of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and her House counterpart and Congressman Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Deputy Director at the CIA Mike Morrell also attended the dinner.
Sources added that Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee also attended the reception.
The Embassy of Pakistan and the CIA declined to comment on the ISI Chief's visit.
The spy chief was scheduled to meet his CIA counterpart Director David Petraeus and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman on Thursday.
While no details were immediately forthcoming about the mood of the meetings, a source said that the ISI leader will discuss mutual challenges and ways to go forward on joint concerns with the US. Broad strategic issues and "opportunities for ‘new beginnings’" are also to be discussed. However, there would be no compromise by Pakistan on drone strikes.
It is expected that the ISI chief will have detailed discussions on these and other intelligence matters during the meetings.
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@khurrammirza: “For my country’s sake, for the sake of people of Pakistan, I did not succumb to that black-mailing and threats”.
Yes and decades later you are still dependant on them, as without USA, you will simply perish ! ZAB also promised that for the bomb , your people will grass, that too is coming to reality and hope that those in power acknowledge the facts to that effect !
What exactly does it mean when we say "no compromise on drone strikes" or "our stance on drone strike is clear that they are counter productive"? Do these deceptive comments by Pakistani govt stop the strikes? No. So there is clearly a compromise.
Chief never got the tour of base in Nevada and it speaks volume as thats where drones are controlled from. Friendly nations get a tour of technology so that they can place the order.Chief got earful last night. tomorrow it will be all public display of diplomatic nicieties. So does it mean that if drones still strikeafter the talk, Chief will quit? BTW heronie captured in Lahore was part of big picture to show that Chief prevented drugs coming to westren countries and hence relevant in the world.
All these Drama , for the public back home, nothing else ! The real instructions have been given an they better be acted upon fast ! Forget about Drones and its operations too, as they will continue without hinderance ! That's the real message from Washington.
"However, there would be no compromise by Pakistan on drone strikes." Who says this? Pakistan or USA?