U.S. CIA, Pakistani Army hold talks on mistrust
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The American CIA chief Leon Panetta, Pakistani army chief and intelligence head held talks on Friday in an attempt to eliminate the mistrust caused by the U.S. unilateral raid to kill Osama bin Laden in Pakistan's Abbottabad on May 2.
It was the CIA chief's first visit to Pakistan after the killing of the al-Qaida chief.
Panetta told the U.S. lawmakers a day after the Abbottabad operation that Pakistan either involved in sheltering Osama bin Laden or incompetent to know about his presence in Pakistan.
The CIA chief's statement had caused rift in bilateral relationship but later top U.S. diplomats, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said that no Pakistan in high level had been involved in hiding Osama bin Laden.
"Mr. Leon Panetta, Director Central Intelligence Agency, the United States, called on Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Both sides discussed the framework for future intelligence sharing," a Pakistani army's brief statement said Friday night.
Pakistani leaders and parliament had condemned the U.S. raid to kill Osama bin Laden and had called for view of relationship with the U.S. and reduction in the presence of American security personnel in Pakistan.
The CIA chief met Pakistan army and intelligence chiefs at a time when the United States embassy said that the number of U.S. military personnel in Pakistan has been reduced following a request from the government of Pakistan.
"We recently received a written request from the Government of Pakistan to reduce the number of U.S. military personnel here, and we have nearly completed that reduction," said Vice Admiral Michael LeFever, Chief of the Office of the Defense Representative- Pakistan.
The statement came a day after Pakistan's top military commanders were informed that the army has "drastically cut down the strength of U.S. troops" stationed in the country.
Top army commanders were told that the army had never accepted any training assistance from the U.S. except for training on the newly inducted weapons and some training assistance for the Frontier Corps only, which performs anti-terror duties along the borders and tribal regions.
"We've been honored to partner with the Pakistan's military and we believe our service members here provide excellent support to Pakistan's military in the fight against violent extremists," said Michael LeFever in a statement.
The statement did not mention the number of U.S. security personnel in Pakistan and how many have been sent back.
U.S. military personnel in Pakistan include trainers who work with Pakistani security forces. The total number of U.S. military forces in Pakistan is determined at the request of and in conjunction with the government and military of Pakistan, the U.S. embassy statement said.
When the government of Pakistan requests assistance, the U.S. remains ready to help with the security requirements of Pakistan, said LeFever.
The Pakistani army commanders were informed about the extent of intelligence cooperation with the U.S. and it has been decided to share intelligence strictly on the basis of reciprocity and complete transparency.
"It has been clearly put across to U.S. intelligence officials that no intelligence agency can be allowed to carry out independent operation on our soil," the Pakistan's army statement said.
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