US pushes Pak to share intelligence inputs with India

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Dec 30 (PTI) Intelligence agencies from
India and Pakistan have started sharing informations with each
other on counter-terrorism, a significant development that has
quietly been pushed by the Obama Administration with some
success this year.
Although there is a long way to go in intelligence
sharing between India and Pakistan, given the trust deficit
between the two South Asian neighbours, a small beginning, but
significant one, in this regard was made during the
Commonwealth Games in October and India visit of President
Barack Obama in November.
The nature of information sharing is being kept a
closely guarded secret – because officials of the three
countries want to keep this development away from pubic glare
as they are afraid of the sensitivities about it in the
sub-continent.
"Sharing of counter-terrorism intelligence information
between the intelligence agencies of India and Pakistan has
started," a Pakistani diplomatic source based in Washington
told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Without going into details, the diplomat said the
Pakistani intelligence agency provided all the information
that was asked for by India during both the Commonwealth games
and the Obama visit and noted that the United States has been
a part and parcel of this information sharing.
"This is a new beginning," a senior administration
official said, hoping that such a development would be of
great help in this war against terrorism.
It is well known that the Obama Administration has
been pushing both India and Pakistan to co-operate in the war
against terrorism; but it has always put the onus for this on
Pakistan; which is considered a nerve center of terrorism.
Both the administrative official and diplomatic
sources acknowledged that there is a huge trust deficit
between the intelligence agencies of the two countries and
they are taking one step at a time in this regard.
However, they exuded confidence that once the process
has begun it would continue.
India, which has had a very bitter experience in the
past, is understandably adopting a very cautious approach as
for the information being received from the Inter Services
Intelligence; which is simultaneously being shared with the
CIA too, officials said.
But the Obama Administration is believed to be
satisfied with the progress. MORE PTI LKJ
PBL



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