Analysis: U.S. and Pakistani spy agency ties suffer strains
By Mark Hosenball
WASHINGTON | Wed Jan 5, 2011 7:00pm EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The critical partnership between intelligence agencies in the United States and Pakistan is under serious strain.
Relations between the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, Pakistan's principal spy unit, have long been buffeted by tensions over the Pakistani agency's links to militant groups opposed to Pakistan's historical enemy, India. U.S. authorities believe some of these groups are linked to anti-American militants, including al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Now, ties between spies in Washington and Islamabad are approaching a nadir, according to half a dozen U.S. officials involved in foreign policy and counterterrorism. They spoke to Reuters about the issue on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject.
"We may be in a bit of a trough at the moment," said a U.S. official who follows the issue closely.
The officials, who are familiar with U.S. military and intelligence operations in the region, say several factors have contributed to a deterioration in the U.S.-Pakistani intelligence relationship over the past year.
One sore point is the Pakistani government's reluctance to expand Pakistani military operations against militants beyond the tribal region of South Waziristan into neighboring North Waziristan, a safe haven for anti-American militants.
The U.S. officials interviewed by Reuters said they also remained concerned that elements of ISI continue to back militants who, if not directly involved in operations against U.S. forces in Afghanistan, may be providing shelter and other support for anti-American Taliban and al Qaeda operatives.
The officials said they regard with increasing seriousness allegations by a convicted American suspect, David Headley, who accused ISI of involvement in the November 2008 commando attack by Pakistani militants on civilian targets in Mumbai, India.
U.S. intelligence experts had hoped that the head of the ISI, General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, and his mentor, Pakistani Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, would dramatically curb ISI dealings with militants. But they have been disappointed by the Pakistani officials' performance.
Some of the U.S. officials complained that their ISI contacts have been less than candid in explaining their agency's continuing involvement with militants.
They said the relationship between ISI and their U.S. counterparts hit a low point when the CIA was forced to withdraw its top officer in Pakistan late last year after his name was published by Pakistani media.
SERIOUS BREACH OF TRUST
A U.S. official who formerly worked with ISI on counter-terrorism operations said to his knowledge no such leak had previously occurred, even though ISI was well aware of the identities of CIA operatives working in Pakistan. The leak of the operative's name is regarded by U.S. intelligence officials as a serious breach of trust.
The U.S. officials said they believed elements of ISI leaked the CIA station chief's identity in retaliation for the filing of three lawsuits in federal court in Brooklyn, New York by families of Mumbai attack victims.
The suits allege that ISI's Pasha and other agency operatives were involved with Lashkar e Taiba (LeT), an anti-India militant group, in planning and orchestrating the attacks.
Analysis: U.S. and Pakistani spy agency ties suffer strains | Reuters
By Mark Hosenball
WASHINGTON | Wed Jan 5, 2011 7:00pm EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The critical partnership between intelligence agencies in the United States and Pakistan is under serious strain.
Relations between the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, Pakistan's principal spy unit, have long been buffeted by tensions over the Pakistani agency's links to militant groups opposed to Pakistan's historical enemy, India. U.S. authorities believe some of these groups are linked to anti-American militants, including al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Now, ties between spies in Washington and Islamabad are approaching a nadir, according to half a dozen U.S. officials involved in foreign policy and counterterrorism. They spoke to Reuters about the issue on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject.
"We may be in a bit of a trough at the moment," said a U.S. official who follows the issue closely.
The officials, who are familiar with U.S. military and intelligence operations in the region, say several factors have contributed to a deterioration in the U.S.-Pakistani intelligence relationship over the past year.
One sore point is the Pakistani government's reluctance to expand Pakistani military operations against militants beyond the tribal region of South Waziristan into neighboring North Waziristan, a safe haven for anti-American militants.
The U.S. officials interviewed by Reuters said they also remained concerned that elements of ISI continue to back militants who, if not directly involved in operations against U.S. forces in Afghanistan, may be providing shelter and other support for anti-American Taliban and al Qaeda operatives.
The officials said they regard with increasing seriousness allegations by a convicted American suspect, David Headley, who accused ISI of involvement in the November 2008 commando attack by Pakistani militants on civilian targets in Mumbai, India.
U.S. intelligence experts had hoped that the head of the ISI, General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, and his mentor, Pakistani Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, would dramatically curb ISI dealings with militants. But they have been disappointed by the Pakistani officials' performance.
Some of the U.S. officials complained that their ISI contacts have been less than candid in explaining their agency's continuing involvement with militants.
They said the relationship between ISI and their U.S. counterparts hit a low point when the CIA was forced to withdraw its top officer in Pakistan late last year after his name was published by Pakistani media.
SERIOUS BREACH OF TRUST
A U.S. official who formerly worked with ISI on counter-terrorism operations said to his knowledge no such leak had previously occurred, even though ISI was well aware of the identities of CIA operatives working in Pakistan. The leak of the operative's name is regarded by U.S. intelligence officials as a serious breach of trust.
The U.S. officials said they believed elements of ISI leaked the CIA station chief's identity in retaliation for the filing of three lawsuits in federal court in Brooklyn, New York by families of Mumbai attack victims.
The suits allege that ISI's Pasha and other agency operatives were involved with Lashkar e Taiba (LeT), an anti-India militant group, in planning and orchestrating the attacks.
Analysis: U.S. and Pakistani spy agency ties suffer strains | Reuters
