Odishatv Bureau
Washington: Ending months of estrangement, Pakistan military has allowed CIA to resume its normal operations in the country with Islamabad approving 87 visas for the agency sleuths. The logjam was broken during the crucial visit of Pakistan`s military run ISI`s chief Lt Gen Shuja Ahmed Pasha in Washington with Islamabad and Washington framing out new rules of engagement, a media report said.

The token of renewed cooperation: The Pakistanis have approved 87 visas for CIA officers working in the country, according to US and Pakistani officials.

"That will bring the agency back toward normal operations in Pakistan, after what both sides say was a low point after the January arrest of CIA contractor Raymond Davis," the Washington Post said.

The daily said joint-counter terrorism has resumed.

"Under new rules of the road, the CIA — in theory, at least — will share with the Pakistanis more information about what its operatives are doing in the country. Sources say, for example, that joint CIA-ISI counter-terrorism operations have resumed."

A tricky issue is the fate of Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani doctor who was arrested by the ISI in May for allegedly helping the CIA try to identify DNA of Osama bin Laden`s family by running a private vaccination campaign in Abbottabad before the May 2 raid on bin Laden`s compound.

"US officials are said to have pressed for Afridi`s release. The Pakistani countered that, because Afridi is a Pashtun who works in Khyber Agency in the tribal areas, certain tribal customs for compensation of victims must first be satisfied," the daily said.

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