Washington: Ending months of
estrangement, Pakistan military has allowed CIA to resume its
normal operations in the country with Islamabad approving 87
visas for the agency sleuths.
The logjam was broken during the crucial visit of
Pakistan`s military run ISI`s chief Lt Gen Shuja Ahmed Pasha
here with Islamabad and Washington framing out new rules of
engagement, a media report said.
"The token of renewed cooperation: The Pakistanis have
approved 87 visas for CIA officers working in the country,
according to US and Pakistani officials.
"That will bring the agency back toward normal
operations in Pakistan, after what both sides say was a low
point after the January arrest of CIA contractor Raymond
Davis," the Washington Post said.
The daily said joint-counter terrorism has resumed.
"Under new rules of the road, the CIA in theory, at
least, will share with the Pakistanis more information about
what its operatives are doing in the country. Sources say, for
example, that joint CIA-ISI counter-terrorism operations have
resumed."
A tricky issue is the fate of Shakil Afridi, a
Pakistani doctor who was arrested by the ISI in May for
allegedly helping the CIA try to identify DNA of Osama bin
Laden`s family by running a private vaccination campaign in
Abbottabad before the May 2 raid on bin Laden`s compound.
"US officials are said to have pressed for Afridi`s
release. The Pakistani countered that, because Afridi is a
Pashtun who works in Khyber Agency in the tribal areas,
certain tribal customs for compensation of victims must first
be satisfied," the daily said.
PTI
