Islamabad: The director of the US National Intelligence, James R Clapper, is currently in Pakistan for talks with Pakistani military officials to shore up their cooperation in the war on terror.
According to the Express Tribune, Clapper’s visit is part of the latest efforts from both sides to put the troubled ties between US and Pakistani intelligence services back on the track.
“He is here to bridge the trust gap and repair ties. The visit reflects on how sensitive both sides are on salvaging their cooperation,” a senior intelligence official said.
Sources also said that Clapper might meet Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) director Lieutenant-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha.
Relations between the US and Pakistan have been on a downward spiral since January after CIA contractor Raymond Davis killed two Pakistanis.
Then in May, the killing of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a secret raid by US special forces further damaged the relationship, with Pakistan seeing the operation as a violation of its sovereignty.
Earlier this month, the Obama administration suspended some USD 800 million in military assistance to Pakistan in a show of displeasure over its cutback on US trainers, limits on visas for US personnel and other rubs.
ANI
First Published: Thursday, July 21, 2011, 12:26