WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: Pak-US talks on removal of misperceptions and
confidence building among senior military authorities of both the
countries have met success and US have shown willingness to restore the
suspended aid of 800 million dollars to Pakistan.
Defence
sources and media reports said that both Pakistan and US had agreed to
take certain measures for confidence building during the recent visit
of DG ISI Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha to US. DG ISI had brought the
message from senior military leadership of Pakistan to US. He has
returned home after holding meetings with US military authorities and
members of Congress.
Sources told Military leadership had
agreed on allowing vital US trainers to return to Pakistan and US
however would provide details and list of all its trainers.
New
procedure will be evolved to issue visas to US officials under which no
US official would come to Pakistan without visa and visa application
will be sent to foreign office of Pakistan through defence attaché.
Foreign ministry would be asked to issue visa after security and
intelligence clearance chit is received. US authorities have agreed on
introduction of new system of issuance of visas.
At preliminary
stage vital US trainers would return to Pakistan who would impart
military hardware and sniper guns dragons training to Pakistan army
personnel.
Out of 800 million dollars aid, 300 million dollars
pertain to Coalition Support Fund and the administrative hiccups will
be removed within 2 to 3 weeks in the release of the fund. The receipts
would be reconciled, as the differences existed over the withheld aid
under Coalition Support Fund. Aid amounting to 500 million dollars
would be utilized for military purposes.
Sources told Lt Gen
Ahmad Shuja Pasha during his visit to US had met acting CIA chief and
members of US congress. It was agreed during these meetings that US
would talk on equal terms rather than exerting pressure on security
agencies particularly army as it was must for the sake of cooperation
in war against terrorism and confidence building between military
leadership of both the countries.
Pakistani laws related to provision of details about arrival of US officials in Pakistan would be honoured. Online
