ISLAMABAD: Pakistan told CIA Director Leon Panetta that they need no US soldiers on the ground despite his concern about a reduction of US troops allowed in the country, Pakistani military officials.
“He (Panetta) expressed concerns over the reduction of trainers and operatives. We told him very clearly ‘no boots on our soil is acceptable’,” said the Pakistani military official.
“We told him that we are clear. We don’t want their people. Intelligence sharing is fine and we are ready for that” said another military official commenting about Bin Laden Issue.
Pakistan’s army said on Thursday it had drastically cut down on the number of US troops allowed in the country and set clear limits on intelligence sharing with the United States
Panetta held talks with army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, head of military intelligence.
The Pakistani military released a statement saying: “Both sides discussed the framework for future intelligence sharing.”
A US embassy spokesman said he had no information on the talks.
