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CIA Chief Meets With Pakistani Leaders


The director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency was in Pakistan Saturday for talks with the country's top leaders.

Leon Panetta made the trip to Islamabad after a visit to India.

The CIA chief held separate meetings with Pakistan's president, Asif Ali Zadari, and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

A government statement said Mr. Gilani stressed the importance of resolving his country's dispute with India over the divided region of Kashmir. He said it would enable Pakistan to focus its attention on eradicating extremism and terrorism.

The Pakistani statement said Panetta expressed satisfaction with cooperation between Pakistan and the U.S. and said Washington is urgently lining up more economic assistance for Pakistan and equipment and training for its security forces.

Reports say Panetta also held talks Saturday with the chief of Pakistan's intelligence agency.

Pakistan is under intense international pressure to rid itself of militants believed to be based in its tribal regions.

U.S. intelligence officials say the militants have allied with al-Qaida to plot attacks against American and allied troops in Afghanistan.

India has also blamed Pakistani militants for last year's terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The CIA chief discussed the incident this week with officials from both India and Pakistan.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

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