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‘ISI accusation taken seriously, will be resolved’

* Gilani confident ISI contains no pockets of Taliban sympathy
* Says US should not link economic aid with military co-operation

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: 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).

Gilani told WT reporters and editors that he had seen no evidence to support allegations that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is compromised.

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.”

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.

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.

Gilani said the best way to combat the Taliban and Al Qaeda is through extensive education and economic aid.

“The root cause of the problem in the Tribal Areas and Afghanistan is poverty,” he said. “People are turning to those militants because they bribe them, give them money and protection; and [then] use them for their own benefit.”

No link: Gilani said on Thursday he has asked the US not to link economic aid to Pakistan with military co-operation, Geo News reported on Thursday.

The channel quoted Gilani as telling reporters on his way to Islamabad that US President George W Bush had assured him of respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty.

He said it had been agreed by Washington that security of Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan should be the common responsibility of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the NATO forces, the channel reported.

The premier said that Pakistan and the US have entered into a new era of confidence-building partnership.

Talking to reporters onboard his aircraft, he described his visit to the US as successful, which resulted in the beginning of a more trustworthy relationship between the two countries. Gilani said the Pak-US relationship would now focus on “peace and prosperity through partnership”.

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