ID :
122928
Wed, 05/19/2010 - 11:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/122928
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CIA, chief, US security advisor arrive in Pakistan
Islamabad, May 19, IRNA -- CIA Director Leon Panetta and the U.S. National Security Advisor Gen James Jones, arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for talks on security matters, sources said.
The top U.S officials will hold talks with Pakistani leaders about the arrest of U.S citizen of Pakistani origin Faisal Shahzad, 30, who had been arrested by the federal authorities on charges of plotting the bomb at the Times Square on May 1.
The U.S Attorney General has said the investigations implicate the Pakistani Taliban in the attack. Other American officials believe that Shahzad had received training from Taliban in Muhmand tribal agency.
The U.S. officials will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Kiyani and ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, sources said.
At least three Pakistani nationals have also been arrested in the U.S. on charges of providing finances to Shahzad.
Pakistani authorities too have made several arrests in Karachi and other parts of the country in connection with the Times Square plot.
Diplomatic sources said that the U.S officials will push Pakistan for expanding investigations into Shahzad’s links with militants. Both sides will review the ongoing cooperation against Taliban and al-Qaeda, official sources said.
They said the U.S officials are likely to push Islamabad to launch operation in North Waziristan tribal region -- stronghold of the Pakistan Taliban. Pakistan says it has no plan to launch any major operation in 2010.
The U.S plan to launch major offensive against the Taliban in Kandahar may also come under discussion as Washington needs Pakistan help to strengthen security along Afghan border to check the possible infiltration of Taliban militants.
It is the third visit of Leon Panetta since taking office last year.
Officials say that Pakistan will raise the issue of U.S drone strikes in the tribal regions, which Islamabad believes is counterproductive and harming the campaign against Taliban.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan has protested to the U.S over delay in granting visas to Pakistani diplomats. Sources said that Pakistan summoned a top U.S diplomat to the Foreign Ministry for conveying its protest over visas delay./end
The top U.S officials will hold talks with Pakistani leaders about the arrest of U.S citizen of Pakistani origin Faisal Shahzad, 30, who had been arrested by the federal authorities on charges of plotting the bomb at the Times Square on May 1.
The U.S Attorney General has said the investigations implicate the Pakistani Taliban in the attack. Other American officials believe that Shahzad had received training from Taliban in Muhmand tribal agency.
The U.S. officials will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Kiyani and ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, sources said.
At least three Pakistani nationals have also been arrested in the U.S. on charges of providing finances to Shahzad.
Pakistani authorities too have made several arrests in Karachi and other parts of the country in connection with the Times Square plot.
Diplomatic sources said that the U.S officials will push Pakistan for expanding investigations into Shahzad’s links with militants. Both sides will review the ongoing cooperation against Taliban and al-Qaeda, official sources said.
They said the U.S officials are likely to push Islamabad to launch operation in North Waziristan tribal region -- stronghold of the Pakistan Taliban. Pakistan says it has no plan to launch any major operation in 2010.
The U.S plan to launch major offensive against the Taliban in Kandahar may also come under discussion as Washington needs Pakistan help to strengthen security along Afghan border to check the possible infiltration of Taliban militants.
It is the third visit of Leon Panetta since taking office last year.
Officials say that Pakistan will raise the issue of U.S drone strikes in the tribal regions, which Islamabad believes is counterproductive and harming the campaign against Taliban.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan has protested to the U.S over delay in granting visas to Pakistani diplomats. Sources said that Pakistan summoned a top U.S diplomat to the Foreign Ministry for conveying its protest over visas delay./end
