Islamabad, May 223 The ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha has
warned the US that Pakistan will be "forced to respond" if it does not
stop drone strikes in the country's tribal belt, according to a media
report today.
Pasha, who faced tremendous criticism after the May 2
US raid that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the garrison city
of Abbottabad, made Pakistan's stand clear during a meeting yesterday
between visiting CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell and senior ISI
officials.
The ISI chief took a firm stance with the US on drone strikes, The Express Tribune newspaper quoted its sources as saying.
"We
will be forced to respond if you do not come up with a strategy that
stops the drone strikes," Pasha reportedly told Morell.
Pasha also
described a recent incursion by NATO helicopters into Pakistani airspace
as a "shock" for defence cooperation between the US and Pakistan.
Morrell also met operational leaders of the ISI and members of the spy agency's recently set-up counter-terrorism division.
Both
sides reportedly discussed a way forward that will involve the US
stopping drone strikes and expanding joint operations against militants.
Relations between the CIA and ISI were strained even before the May 2 unilateral American raid that killed bin Laden.
The
ISI repeated the demand during yesterday's meetings, with Pakistani
officials asking the US to provide a list of names of people employed by
the CIA or other US intelligence agencies, The Express Tribune
reported.
