News
Friday, July 15, 2011
Genral Petraeus meets Kayani amid tensions
ISLAMABAD: General David Petraeus, the outgoing US commander in Afghanistan, and his soon-to-be successor met with top military leaders in Pakistan on Thursday as the two countries struggled to resolve tensions over the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Petraeus and Marine Lt Gen John Allen’s visit was part of a flurry over meetings between diplomats and military leaders of the two countries since the May 2 strike against the al Qaeda chief in Abbottabad. Pakistani civilian and military leaders are angry over the raid because the Americans did not warn them about it, although they insist they had no idea the terror leader was on their soil. In response, they have kicked out many US military trainers and asked the Americans to reduce their footprint in the country. The US recently announced it was suspending some $800 million in military aid to Pakistan until the relationship improves.
Nonetheless, both sides appear intent on keeping the dialogue going, a reflection of the realisation that on some level the two countries need each other. On Thursday, Pakistani spy chief Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha met acting CIA director Michael Morell in Washington. A senior US official said the talks went well, that both sides agreed on a number of steps to improve Pakistani and US national security.
Pakistani officials would not provide details, but Pasha previously pushed for a stop to US drone strikes against militants in Pakistan’s tribal areas, unless the targets are agreed upon in advance and Pakistan is informed. ap
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk