Washington: The Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Tuesday said it would continue to work
closely with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) following a
meeting between its Director Leon Panetta and Pakistani spy
chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha here.
The relations remain on "solid footing", CIA
spokesman Marie Harf said after the crucial meeting, which
came after months of tensions between the two organisations
which has hit their joint anti-terror efforts.
"Director Panetta and General Pasha held productive
discussions today, and the CIA-ISI relationship remains on
solid footing," Harf told PTI.
"The United States and Pakistan share a wide range of
mutual interests, and today`s exchange emphasised the need to
continue to work closely together, including on our common
fight against terrorist networks that threaten both
countries," Harf said.
It is understood that the focus of Monday`s meeting
was solely the relationship between the US and Pakistan.
"The focus of today`s discussions was the relationship
between the United States and Pakistan," said a US official,
familiar with the discussions when asked if India came up
during the talks between Panetta and Pasha.
Pasha is believed to have left Washington late Monday
night, cutting short his visit by two days.
Reasons for his early departure were not known
immediately.
PTI
