Pakistan spies to break ties with CIA
Source: Agencies |
February 25, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PAKISTAN'S ISI spy agency is ready to split with the CIA because of frustration over what it calls heavy-handed pressure and anger over what it believes is a covert US operation involving contract spies, according to a document.
According to a statement drafted by the ISI, supported by interviews with officials, an already-fragile relationship between the two agencies collapsed following the shooting death of two Pakistanis by Raymond Davis, a US contracted spy who is in jail in Pakistan facing possible multiple murder charges.
"Post-incident conduct of the CIA has virtually put the partnership into question," said a media statement prepared by the ISI but never released.
The statement accused the CIA of using pressure tactics to free Davis.
"It is hard to predict if the relationship will ever reach the level at which it was prior to the Davis episode," the statement said. "The onus of not stalling this relationship between the two agencies now squarely lies on the CIA."
The ISI fears there are hundreds of CIA contracted spies operating in Pakistan without the knowledge of either the Pakistan government or the intelligence agency, a senior Pakistani intelligence official said in an interview. The official spoke only on condition he not be identified on grounds that exposure would compromise his security.
Pakistan intelligence had no idea who Davis was or what he was doing when he was arrested, the official said, adding that there are concerns about "how many more Raymond Davises are out there."
Davis was arrested on January 27 in Lahore after shooting two Pakistanis. A third Pakistani was killed by a US Consulate vehicle coming to assist the American. Pakistan demanded the driver be handed over, but the two US employees in the car are now in the United States.
Davis has pleaded self-defense, but the Lahore police upon completing their investigation said they would seek murder charges. The ISI official said that Davis had contacts in the tribal regions and knew both the men he shot. He said the ISI is investigating the possibility that the encounter on the streets of Lahore stemmed from a meeting or from threats to Davis.
US officials deny Davis had prior contact with the men before the incident, and CIA spokesman George Little said any problems between the two agencies will be sorted out.
"The CIA works closely with our Pakistani counterparts on a wide range of security challenges, including our common fight against al-Qaida and its terrorist allies," he said. "The agency's ties to ISI have been strong over the years, and when there are issues to sort out, we work through them. That's the sign of a healthy partnership."
The CIA repeatedly has tried to penetrate the ISI and learn more about Pakistan's nuclear program. The ISI has mounted its own operations to gather intelligence on the CIA's counterterrorism activities
The ISI is now scouring thousands of visas issued to US employees in Pakistan. The ISI official said Davis' visa application contains bogus references and phone numbers.
He said thousands of visas were issued to US Embassy employees over the past five months following a government directive to the Pakistan Embassy in Washington to issue visas without the usual vetting by the interior ministry and the ISI.
According to a statement drafted by the ISI, supported by interviews with officials, an already-fragile relationship between the two agencies collapsed following the shooting death of two Pakistanis by Raymond Davis, a US contracted spy who is in jail in Pakistan facing possible multiple murder charges.
"Post-incident conduct of the CIA has virtually put the partnership into question," said a media statement prepared by the ISI but never released.
The statement accused the CIA of using pressure tactics to free Davis.
"It is hard to predict if the relationship will ever reach the level at which it was prior to the Davis episode," the statement said. "The onus of not stalling this relationship between the two agencies now squarely lies on the CIA."
The ISI fears there are hundreds of CIA contracted spies operating in Pakistan without the knowledge of either the Pakistan government or the intelligence agency, a senior Pakistani intelligence official said in an interview. The official spoke only on condition he not be identified on grounds that exposure would compromise his security.
Pakistan intelligence had no idea who Davis was or what he was doing when he was arrested, the official said, adding that there are concerns about "how many more Raymond Davises are out there."
Davis was arrested on January 27 in Lahore after shooting two Pakistanis. A third Pakistani was killed by a US Consulate vehicle coming to assist the American. Pakistan demanded the driver be handed over, but the two US employees in the car are now in the United States.
Davis has pleaded self-defense, but the Lahore police upon completing their investigation said they would seek murder charges. The ISI official said that Davis had contacts in the tribal regions and knew both the men he shot. He said the ISI is investigating the possibility that the encounter on the streets of Lahore stemmed from a meeting or from threats to Davis.
US officials deny Davis had prior contact with the men before the incident, and CIA spokesman George Little said any problems between the two agencies will be sorted out.
"The CIA works closely with our Pakistani counterparts on a wide range of security challenges, including our common fight against al-Qaida and its terrorist allies," he said. "The agency's ties to ISI have been strong over the years, and when there are issues to sort out, we work through them. That's the sign of a healthy partnership."
The CIA repeatedly has tried to penetrate the ISI and learn more about Pakistan's nuclear program. The ISI has mounted its own operations to gather intelligence on the CIA's counterterrorism activities
The ISI is now scouring thousands of visas issued to US employees in Pakistan. The ISI official said Davis' visa application contains bogus references and phone numbers.
He said thousands of visas were issued to US Embassy employees over the past five months following a government directive to the Pakistan Embassy in Washington to issue visas without the usual vetting by the interior ministry and the ISI.
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