 Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said US concerns about collusion between members of Pakistan's intelligence agency and terrorists are being taken seriously and "will be resolved", according to a report in The Washington Times (WT).
| Which is different, on the surface, from the contemptuous dismissal the idea got yesterday... |
Gilani told WT reporters and editors that he had seen no evidence to support allegations that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is compromised.
| "Oh, yeah. I asked around and everything!" |
Asked whether he was confident that the ISI contained no pockets of Taliban sympathy, Gilani said, "I'm pretty sure about it." He however added, "We still have to look into [the accusations]. ... It will be resolved."
| "I mean, they did give us some names. And some dates. And some photos. And some video recordings. And DNA samples..." |
Top Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and US military officials travelled to Pakistan this month in part to complain about ties between Pakistani intelligence officials and Taliban insurgent groups that may have contributed to a rise in attacks in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to the WT report, Gilani confirmed the visit in mid-July of CIA Deputy Director Stephen R Kappes and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Michael Mullen. According to the New York Times, Lt Gen Martin E Dempsey -- acting commander of US forces in the Middle East and South Asia -- visited the Tribal Areas on Monday.
| He had originally brought with him the jawbone of an ass, but it was impounded by customs... |
A US official told WT that "not enough is being done" by Pakistan to combat growing problems in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, including Taliban and Al Qaeda sympathisers within government agencies. |