Briefcase 1 Pak was almost placed on list of state sponsored terror: Ex-CIA official2 Pak has clung stubbornly to its own perceptions of national interest: Official3 US must help Pak maintain large conventional armed forces: OfficialPakistan was "nearly placed" on a formal US list of state sponsors of terrorism during 1993 to 1994, an ex-CIA official has said. He was addressing members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a Congressional hearing on Pakistan. "US MUST HELP PAK MAINTAIN LARGE CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCES"However, the former CIA station chief in Islamabad, warned the lawmakers against taking any punitive action or sanctions against Pakistan. In fact he encouraged that the US should help Pakistan maintain a large conventional armed forces. "The US dares not turn its back on Pakistan as it seeks to protect its serious national security interests in South- Central Asia," Grenier said.

Source: India Today September 09, 2016 07:28 UTC