Pakistan’s refusal to US may help ties: Daily
Pakistan’s refusal to the US to undertake joint military operations against Islamists can actually bring about a more meaningful bilateral cooperation, a newspaper said on Monday.
This “would eventually lead to a far more reciprocal and transparent Islamabad-Washington cooperation”, the Nation reported. Echoing an official view, it said that Pakistan cannot trust the US after its unilateral killing of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden May 2.
The raid had hurt the chances of any further joint military operations in future, it said. “Except for reciprocal and transparent intelligence cooperation between the CIA and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan will not accept the US demand for joint military operations,” the newspaper said. “That is why (the) US had to recall its military trainers and CIA operatives from Pakistan.
“Washington is expected to take corrective measures accordingly,” military sources were quoted as saying. Islamabad’s new policy has ended the presence of US military in Pakistan, and both countries are struggling to redefine their strategic cooperation, it said.
“This may take some time.to make it more meaningful cooperation based on mutual respect,” a source said. Pakistan’s military leadership has made it clear to the CIA that they were not willing to reverse a decision to cut the number of American troops in their country.
“He (CIA chief Leon Panetta) expressed concern over the reduction of trainers and operatives. We told him very clearly 'no boots on our soil is acceptable,” the sources said. “We told him we don’t want their people. Intelligence sharing is fine, and we are ready for that.”
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