Islamabad: CIA chief John Brennan flew to Pakistan last week for a clandestine meeting with army chief Gen Raheel Sharif to discuss a possible military operation against militants in the country’s northwest, a media report said on Monday.
The two officials discussed “highly sensitive issues of mutual interest”, including air strikes conducted in tribal areas since last week and the “prospects of a likely military operation after the apparent failure of the TTP-government peace negotiations”, The News quoted its sources as saying. According to the report, Brennan met the Pakistan Army chief on Friday.
A senior official of the US Embassy here told PTI that they were looking into the matter. Asked specifically if there was confirmation or denial of the meeting, the official said, “We have seen the report and we are looking into it.”
Pakistani combat jets targeted militant bases in the restive tribal areas days after the government suspended peace talks with the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan after a militant faction executed 23 troops abducted in 2010.
The CIA chief’s reported visit comes at a time when the US spy agency has put its drone campaign in the tribal areas on hold. Pakistan and the US are also holding talks in Washington on Monday to promote defence cooperation. Defence Secretary AY Malik is leading the Pakistan delegation. (PTI)
