(2)Pakistani ISI head visits the US
Al Jazeera reports on the visit of Lt. Gen. Zahir ul-Islam, the head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence directorate, to the United States.
The New York Times profiles the Pakistani spy chief, and includes speculation about his meeting with CIA Director David H. Petraeus:
Relations between Pakistani and American spies reached a low point in the past year after a series of contentious episodes, including the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden, the shooting of two Pakistanis by a C.I.A. contractor, Raymond A. Davis, and continuing accusations that the ISI is shielding Islamist militants.From Wednesday, Mr. Petraeus and General Islam will seek to rebuild a counterterrorism relationship that has severely frayed, Pakistani and American officials said.
"Petraeus will try to forge a relationship with him," one senior Obama administration official said. "We've got business to do. Let's get on with it."
READER COMMENTS: "Pakistani ISI head visits the US"
Posted by Nic at August 2, 2012 5:07 AM ET:
This is like enlisting the aid of a fox to find the culprit who committed a hideous act of slaughter in the hen house.
What possible value could this conversation have? The Paks know that we have not trusted them for a long time and that we have no intention of trusting them in the foreseeable future. Pakistan's involvement with bin Laden is seared into the American psyche. Did you get all of that, ISI? I am writing this comment for you.
BTW, if you wish to express your displeasure with Pakistan and its ISI then boycott all goods with "Made in Pakistan" on the label. The products will be mostly textiles.
Posted by pre-Boomer Marine brat at August 6, 2012 1:48 AM ET:
Seems I recall the critical issue is with the likes of the ISI's S-Wing, not necessarily with the ISI as a whole.
Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm looking for fact. I recall reading, a few years ago, that ul-Islam's predecessor, Lt. Gen. Pasha, was appointed to the post in late 2008 to root out the more rabid of the Jihad supporters -- perhaps aka al Qaida. Whether or not he succeeded, was that true at the time?