US officials said US drone strikes in Pakistan are being curtailed in deference to Pakistan’s wishes and in view of logistical constraints as the US winds down its combat role in Afghanistan; the officials denied recent reports that the change was to allow Pakistan to negotiate with the Taliban. Officials said the CIA plans to focus on high-value targets such as al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri and his top lieutenants, but also admitted that top al Qaeda operatives have become increasingly elusive. Robert Ford, the US envoy to the Syrian opposition, is retiring; his replacement has not been named.
