CIA Station Chief Leaves Pakistan In Conflict with ISI

For the second time in seven months, the CIA station chief in Islamabad has left the country, as U.S. officials cited "medical reasons" for the early withdrawal (ABC, AFP). The station chief, who reportedly led the intelligence gathering operation that tracked down Osama bin Laden's compound in the city of Abbottabad, is said to have had a contentious relationship with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) that resulted in officials originally scheduling his rotation out of the country for September, 10 months into his tour (Independent, CBS). The chief's departure is expected to help improve U.S.-Pakistan relations, though Pakistan has placed restrictions on U.S. diplomats' travel within the country (Dawn, AFP, ET, AP).