The non-combat surveillance flights along the border are different from the flights of armed C.I.A.-operated drones that have attacked several Taliban targets in recent months and days.

The intelligence-sharing arrangement has already been put in place but has not been made public. Under the arrangement, Pakistani ground forces receive direct support for several hours a day, though not necessarily every day, from remotely piloted American military aircraft based in Afghanistan, a senior American defense

The move has not found favour with American intelligence operatives, according to the NYT. They had a bitter experience of such joint operations. Several years ago, American officials gave Pakistan advance word of planned Predator attacks but stopped the practice after the information was leaked to militants.

The sharing of real-time video feeds, communications intercepts and other information comes as the Obama administration is also speeding the delivery of transport helicopters, body armor and other equipment that Pakistan’s military has requested to help combat  Mehsud in South Waziristan.