No free hand to CIA now, Gen Kayani tells Gen Petraeus

Efforts are continuing to improve relations between the military establishments of the US and Pakistan, which have been on a downward spiral since January this year, with CIA chief designate General David Petraeus calling on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani and ISI chief General Shuja Pasha meeting CIA acting director Michael Morell in Washington on Thursday.
According to an ISPR statement, “The visiting dignitary remained with General Kayani for some time and discussed matters of professional interest.” General Kayani told Petraeus that Pakistan was willing to continue with its intelligence cooperation with the US in the fight against terrorism, but CIA operatives would not be allowed to operate on their own in Pakistan.
A security official privy to the meeting between General Kayani and the CIA chief said the talks were focused on reviving full intelligence cooperation between Islamabad and Washington against al Qaeda and Taliban militants on both sides of Afghan border.
ISI chief: ISI chief Pasha also flew to Washington to seek the release of US military assistance and urge the Obama administration to withdraw the strings attached to it. They also discussed vacating the Shamsi airbase, the situation arising from the continued drone attacks and the release of Dr Shakeel Afridi, according to a private TV channel.
The official said General Kayani, in his meeting with General Petraeus, said Pakistan saw al Qaeda and Taliban as a serious threat to its security and it had no problem in continuing with its cooperation with the US to eliminate such elements but the presence of CIA network on Pakistani soil was not acceptable.
A separate statement issued by the US embassy said General Petraeus visited Pakistan on Thursday to meet with General Kayani. “They discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to improve regional security. General Petraeus also met with US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter and received updates on the US security assistance mission to Pakistan. Accompanying General Petraeus was Marine Lt neral John Allen who will succeed General Petraeus as ISAF commander in Afghanistan,” the statement said.