ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani appointed a new director-general of the country’s powerful spy agency on Friday, Gilani’s office said in a statement, creating a possible opening for improved U.S.-Pakistan relations after 15 months of tension.

Lieutenant-General Zaheer-ul-Islam, who has participated in U.S.-based training programs, will take over as director-general of the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) after serving as the commander of the V Corps, one of the most important in the army and based in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and its commercial hub.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani appointed a new director-general of the country’s powerful spy agency on Friday, Gilani’s office said in a statement, possibly allowing a fresh approach to U.S.-Pakistan relations after 15 months of tension.

Lieutenant-General Zaheer-ul-Islam will take over as director-general of the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) after serving as the commander of the V Corps, one of the most important in the army and based in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and its commercial hub.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani filmmaker and first-time Oscar nominee Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won an Academy Award on Monday for her documentary about acid attack victims, a first for a Pakistani director.

Her victory shines a spotlight on a subject which affects thousands of women in Pakistan and elsewhere, but is seldom discussed at home.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – After two days of high-level talks, Afghanistan appears to have failed to gain more Pakistani support for its bid to advance its reconciliation process with Taliban insurgent.

Pakistan is seen as critical to efforts to reach a settlement to Afghanistan’s conflict, now in its 11th year, and is believed to have influence over Afghan insurgent groups.