By NNN-PTI
New York : President Pervez Musharraf has rebuffed US proposals to let its forces engage in combat operations in Pakistan’s restive tribal areas, but both sides are discussing ways to enhance US intelligence gathering missions including surveillance by armed Predator aircraft.
America’s top two intelligence officials — national intelligence director Mike McConnell and CIA director Gen Michael V Hayden — secretly travelled to Pakistan on January 9 to meet Musharraf, the New York Times reported.
But the President rebuffed their proposals to expand any American combat presence, either through covert CIA missions or by joint operations with Pakistani security forces, it said.
“Instead, Pakistan and the United States are discussing a series of other joint efforts, including increasing the number and scope of missions by armed Predator surveillance aircraft over the tribal areas, and identifying ways that the United States can speed information about people suspected of being militants to Pakistani security forces,” the Times said, quoting unnamed officials.
The secret January 9 meeting was also attended by Pakistan army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
The visit was arranged as the US government felt the Taliban and Al Qaeda were intensifying their efforts to destabilise the Pakistani government, the report said.
“The purpose of the mission was to convince Musharraf that time is ticking away,” and that the increased attacks on Pakistan would ultimately undermine his effort to stay in office, a senior official said.