ISI chief in Saudi Arabia to hold talks with officials on Pak-US ties

ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha today rushed to Saudi Arabia after holding talks with Saudi intelligence officials in Islamabad who had come on King Abdullah's direction to cool down growing tensions between Pakistan and the US, media reports said.

On the special directive of Saudi King Abdullah, Saudi intelligence officials dashed to Pakistan and held wide ranging interaction with ISI Chief Pasha and other concerned officials, The Nation newspaper reported on its website.

Saudi officials met Pasha at Chaklala base and conveyed a positive signal of considerable support to ISI officials during the meeting, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

After the meeting, ISI Chief Pasha dashed to Saudi Arabia by a special plane, The Nation reported, adding that Pasha is expected to hold meetings with heads of Saudi Intelligence and armed forces there.

The tension between Pakistan and US escalated following accusations by top Obama administration officials that ISI had supported the Haqqani network for carrying out a string of attacks against American interests in Afghanistan, including the recent attack on its embassy in Kabul.

The Nation, quoting its sources, said Pasha proceeded to Saudi Arabia on the directive of the political and military leadership because the Kingdom is a close ally of Pakistan and had in the past helped it come out of several crises.

Meanwhile, China's top security official and Vice Prime Minister Meng Jianzhou arrived here today on a two day visit.

The Express Tribune reported that a trilateral meeting between intelligence officials from Saudi Arabia, China and Pakistan will held in Islamabad today.

The meeting will focus on US allegations against Pakistan and the future course of action in this regard, it said.