Davis belonged to CIA,was checking on militant groups

Working from Lahore,the detained US contractor,Raymond Davis carried out scouting and other reconnaissance missions for a Central Intelligence Agency task force that several American and Pakistani officials said was tracking movements of militant groups including Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Daviss arrest,which came after what has been described as a botched robbery attempt,has exacerbated frayed relations between the CIA and its Pakistani counterpart the ISI.

Davis has worked for years as a CIA contractor,including time at Blackwater Worldwide,the private security firm (now Xe).

The New York Times had agreed to temporarily withhold information about Daviss ties to the agency on request of the Obama administration,which argued that disclosure of job details would put his life at risk. Several foreign news organisations disclosed aspects of Daviss work and on Monday,US officials lifted their request.

Documents with Pakistans foreign office show Davis was paid $200,000 a year. In a twist that further infuriated Pakistanis,a third man was killed when a Toyota Land Cruiser racing to Daviss rescue ran over a motorcyclist. As the Land Cruiser drove recklessly,a police report said,items fell out of the vehicle,including 100 bullets. Pakistani officials have demanded the Americans in the SUV be turned over to authorities,but US officials say they have already left the country.

First drone attack since arrest,7 die
PESHAWAR: Seven foreign militants were killed as the US carried out the first drone strike in Pakistans restive tribal belt since US official Raymond Davis was arrested on January 27 for gunning down two men in Lahore,officials said Monday. Drones targeted a militant compound in South Waziristan firing four missiles at the compound in Kara Panga village. The last drone strike before Davis arrest was carried out on January 23.