Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff meets with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad in Dec. 2009. (DoD photo)

Pakistani media publicized the identity of the CIA's chief operative in Islamabad, a week after the U.S. killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the outskirts of the capital.

The Associated Press reports that the name reported actually is incorrect, but the decision to publish any indentity--correct or incorrect--still highlights the sour relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan.

Many experts said outing the CIA agent serves as retaliation for the U.S. embarassing Pakistan by sweeping in to kill bin Laden without offering any heads-up.

In December, the previous CIA station chief in Islamabad had to leave because his name started to circulate in the Pakistani media. The U.S. quietly blamed the leak on willful disobedience by Pakistan's intelligence agency.

"The Islamabad station chief is one of the CIA's most critical and sensitive assignments," reported the Australian. "The position oversees the agency's covert programs, including the drone campaign that targets al-Qa'ida and Taliban leaders, as well as fighters who cross the border into Afghanistan."

"Pakistan needs the U.S. for its economic aid, and Washington needs Islamabad to continue its fight against terrorism and because it is home to the most important routes supplying the war in Afghanistan," wrote Susanne Koelbl in Germany's Der Spiegel. "In describing the two countries' first talks since the [Bin Laden raid], one senior Pakistani official says that the Americans 'want answers' and that they even 'claim this crisis is also a chance to improve relations.' But now, he adds, Washington has set one condition for Pakistan: 'No tricks.'"

Video from newsy.com

Like reporter Paresh Dave on Facebook, find him on Twitter or send him an e-mail.