US finds the road in Pakistan long and winding

The United States has asked Pakistan to withdraw stringent curbs imposed on the movement of American diplomats and non-diplomats, fearing they may put Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives at risk.

According to well placed sources in the Pakistani security establishment, Islamabad recently started implementing new measures seeking to restrict the movement of CIA operatives. In January this year, the Pakistani foreign ministry directed diplomatic missions, to seek permission for movement of diplomats and non-diplomats outside Islamabad and all provincial capitals. But as part of an understanding, US diplomatic missions, particularly CIA operatives, were exempted from this restriction until the Abbottabad incident. The sources say diplomats and CIA operatives are now required to fill in a detailed form and submit it before visiting any part of the country.