Share this article
Print this page
Pakistani foreign secretary Salman Bashir listens to a question during a media briefing about the killing of Osama bin Laden at the foreign ministry in Islamabad on May 5, 2011. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said on Thursday that any country that again seeks to raid its territory would face consequences from Pakistan’s military.
“We feel that sort of misadventure or miscalculation would result in a terrible catastrophe,” he said. “There should be no doubt Pakistan has adequate capacity to ensure its own defence.”
He was speaking three days after a US raid by special forces, without the knowledge of Pakistan officials, on a compound in Abbottabad, north of the capital, killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Reiterating the statement made by PM Yousaf Gilani in Paris, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said if an intelligence failure had resulted in a decade-long hunt for most wanted terrorist Bin Laden, the blame was to be shared by spy agencies all over the world.
Talking to the media in Islamabad, Bashir responded to media critique of the Pakistan military and intelligence agencies by saying that the criticism is unwarranted and cannot be validated.
“This has been played out all wrong in the media domain…we have a lot of work to do to change this,” said Bashir.
Airspace violation
Bashir responded to allegations that the intelligence agencies failed to detect US helicopters in Pakistani airspace by saying that Pakistan has “adequate capacity” to protect itself and that the CIA-led operation was covert.
“The helicopters managed to evade our radars. The first information we received was when a helicopter crashed. Then we immediately reacted,” he said.
He said that as soon as the operation was over, at around 3am Admiral Mike Mullen informed them about the operation that has taken place. He also added that it was the US that pointed out the aspect of sovereignty, “as the Americans are equally concerned about this issue”.
Hideout next to military academy
In response to media statements regarding the failure of agencies to detect the hideout that was in close proximity to a training academy, Bashir said that the matter was being “looked into”.
He added that the institution does not require the same protection as other civilian and military assets, and was not under the same level of scrutiny as other strategic locations.
ISI is not in league with terrorists
Bashir stated that the ISI has a “brilliant record” in fighting terrorism and emphasized on their success against al Qaeda. He dismissed the speculation that ISI was providing cover to Bin Laden and termed the notion “absolutely wrong”.
“It’s easy to say that the agencies were in cahoots with al Qaeda. But this is a false charge.” He added that the performance of the ISI against al Qaeda “does not compare to any other intelligence agency’s achievements”.
He pointed out that ISI had gathered intelligence that led to the arrest of wanted terrorists like Khalid Shiekh Mohammad from Rawalpindi and al Qaeda operational chief Abu Faraj al Libbi from Mardan. He also added that the person involved in the Bali bombings was picked up from Abbottabad by the intelligence agency.
He also said that “there is no need for any Pakistani to feel demoralised” and Pakistanis should feel proud of their country and institutions.
Pak-US mistrust
He said that the CIA and ISI shared intelligence which led to the identification of Bin Laden’s hideout.
Bashir said the ISI provided information on Bin Laden’s courier on al Kuwaiti, which led CIA to focus on this compound.
He added that Pakistan looks forward to Hillary Clinton’s visit this month.
More in Pakistan
Food security: BoK to fund K-P wheat procurement
Yeah right, same as they stopped the drone attacks after 5 years of strikes.Recommend
Lolz what consequences from Pakistan Army? It has been 3-4 days and they didn’t even gather the courage to come out of their barracks or DHA.Recommend
Yeah, right! And Gobbels said that Nazis had nothing to do with mass killing of Jews! WHO in right mind will believe Mr Bashir! I actually pity him, as he is just doing his job!
IF ISI is such a saint, may be it should start with handing over Hafeez Saeed (to India), Ayman Al-Zawahari, Jalaluddin Haqquani, Mulla Omar and Gulbadin Hikmatyar (to USA and Afghanistan)?Recommend
So, finally he wake’s at the end. Good thing: He made it very clear that we will not tolerate this again. To be noted, The White House has said that US President Barack Obama reserves the right to act again against top terror suspects inside Pakistan.Recommend
The King is dead … the king is dead … the king is dead …
Long Live the King … long live the king … long live the king …Recommend
(ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said on Thursday that any country that again seeks to raid its territory would face consequences from Pakistan’s military)
Consequences will be faced only if our so Called Army & ISI comes to know of any intrusion.Recommend
Funny statement. They failed to detect it this time. How they would protect the frontiers second time ?Recommend
he said. “There should be no doubt Pakistan has adequate capacity to ensure its own defence.”
You said it! Pakistan will retaliate in two or more days by getting on the television and warning about further such attacks!Recommend
This inefficient and corrupt Govt. has embarrassed the whole nation. When we came to know about the covert operation, we should have shot the choppers down. I think its the high time that we should test an ICBM to show the yankees that we can reach their cities if we are pushed to the wall.Recommend
In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.—- Winston Churchill.Recommend
Too little too late Mr. Bashir. We are already demoralized. Stop taking 80% of the national budget which is going into general’s mansions, Prados and foreign trips. ENOUGH!Recommend
Finley someone spoken. indeed spoken well to shut the running wiled mouth of the world.
Mr. Bashir Give some strong statements to the world, i agree with him. why we just Pakistani stands for every failure? why shod we have to answer for every que to every one.
very well considering points by him. what would the world call to 9/11 ancient where was the so called worlds top terror hunter CIA? wasnt that as well a security failure ?? what about Mummbai attack where was the RAW??Recommend
Lol .. Next time we will also be sleeping as well and america will complete their task. so please speak only that words which can you prove it later .. you can not do nothing next time as wellRecommend
The world should remember that Pakistan lost more than 30, 000 civilian lives to save entire world from terrorists. Shame on those who label an entire nation or its government or army as supporters of terrorists. India and US have no more kind hearted people it seems as they seem to be on forefront to pressurize and demoralize Pakistan by labeling Pakistanis as supporters of terrorists. We support Pak Army and Pakistan government and its people. The sacrifices of innocent Pakistanis and brave armed personnel will be rewarded in heaven.Recommend
they would voilate ur airspace, invade your nuclear arsenals, and you would knw it when it would be too late !Recommend
How though MR Bashir? Americans came in all the way to Abbottabad with 4 helicopters did what they wanted to and left unnoticed. Were you servicing your radars at the time or the Army was sleeping? I am happy OBL is dead but I would have been even more happier if Pakistan army could have done the job. Is this how we are guarding the borders?Recommend
they said it after every drone strike – and even after raymond davis. Who Cares what they say anymore?
and tight the screws of your radars! They might make a walk here soon!Recommend
Useless Army, useless gov, trying to save face. Rections time = over 3 hours. HOw funny that he failed to mention the garrison placed there, and IB, ISI and MI offices. And to think our defence actually requires something to fall out of the sky accidently for them to notice. How sad.Recommend
I believe its all a drama just to pressurize Pakistan. because of some logical que:
Osama the worlds most dangerous and America’s most wanted, and the leader of All Jhadi Tnazeemz was that much fool to stayed in a compound behind a few women ?? was he that much fool not to have his follower for his security? was he that much fool that he wasnt having any kind of defensive force and weapons with him in case of any accident? and if they had killed him why aren’t they releasing his pictures ??Recommend
You can make fool some people some times, you can make fool someone some times but you cannot make fool everyone everytime(Its a say) No further comments!!!!!!!!!!!!Recommend
He’s talking about next time? And do they actually think the Americans are going to take these warnings seriously now?Recommend
If a powerful country invades a small country without permission, that small country may go straight in UN protesting its sovereignty violations. But in this case it is not possible perhaps with the apprehension that US might show permission given by the FOUR under the table. However it is interesting to hear from foreign office that we learn that invasion has occurred and helicopters is above Abottabad, but we also learn it has already been crashed there…so they continued their sleep.Recommend
“that any country that again seeks to raid its territory would face consequences from Pakistan’s military.”
Consequences? What sort? Our military is so scared that it has failed to come out of their barracks and GHQ for 3-4days now.Recommend
Rhetoric or what? It all happened within seconds of army garrisons and the reaction time was what? Two days later in the form of this ‘very strong’ message. Either be quiet and lick your wounds, or have the moral courage to stand up and say we authorized it, or did it and gave him to US. If you are part of a coalition against terrorism then you have the right to do that. Unfortunately, all the politicians, who are so emotional about the sanctity of the country’s boundaries are no where to be heard, or are having delayed reactions. Operation of this type will happen time and again until you stop taking their money….Recommend
Poor people at FO I appreciate the damage controll but its of no use. Its ok you do your job. and where is that New FM of ours the “beauty”… WHAT !!???!! STILL IN FRANCE with SAKOZY …Get her outta there Man enuff said…Recommend
Starting from the top perhaps the pilot who took our PM to France should refuse to bring him home. The Paki spring has begun. We are stupid and incompetent and we love relecting themRecommend
If this is how Pakistan’s foreign secretary speaks, it is clear that in Islamabad a decision has been taken that India-Pakistan relations shall not improve.
I would like to hear from some other sections of opinion in Pakistan. Is there no constituency in Pakistan for good relations with India?
The Indian prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh has been trying almost single-handed to bring about improvement in India-Pakistan relations.
Here comes a statement from the Pakistan foreign secretary warning the US and India (although India is not explicitly mentioned, but the foreign secretary meant India) against “covert operations”.
The reference is so thinly veiled that it is impossible not to understand the meaning. Surely the foreign secretary could not have meant that Pakistan could defend itself against attack by the US. If a US attack happened, theoretically speaking, then Pakistan cannot defend itself.
Clearly the warning was meant for India’s benefit.
One result of the US unilateral operation against Osama bin Laden is going to be that India-Pakistan relations shall be put in cold storage for some time.
Dr Manmohan Singh should consider national self-respect before the prospects of good relations with Pakistan.
Dr V. C. Bhutani, vcbhutani@gmail.com, Delhi, India, May 5 2011, 1759 ISTRecommend
It hurts to admit that the US Seals pulled off a near flawless special op, they came in, got their man, except for the issue with the heli there wouldn’t have been space for another narrative. 120 miles inland, 79 men and their dog came and killed OBL, EKIA their stated objective was achieved. You can bury your head in the sand but just go thru all the list of terrorist bombings outside and inside Pakistan and you will find the bitter truth that invariably almost all of them were Pakistani or linked to Pakistan.
Today, Pakistan has had a strategic defeat. Pakistanis are ashamed of their nationality the world over. These big boys with their toys paid for in USD and their rotund bellies and penchant for golf have royally cast this nation on a dead slope to decimation from within. Given that the history of this region is unique but still virtually all terrorist related incidents are stringed through our bad lands. Please watch this clip, maybe you will wake up and stop seeing conspiracies in every nook and see what the rent-a-army has done to this country…the “crore” commanders and their dubious superiors in uniform need to be asked about treasonous incompetence!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8QV8aBPrtTcRecommend
Such like situations need calculated, measured and sure footed policy statement which require some time for consultations for concerned staff. Haste is never good. I like the official position, though late; would have been much better if had come earlier. Its time for the nation to stand united, not biting each other. we are all responsible for every shame coming to the country, Government, intelligence, officials live much away; Arent we responsible about our neighbors? We must look into our own girebaan before blaming anyone. If Army is Good, its not God, lets not get into trap of our enemies. Its a time when we are all too hurt. Lets wake up to pledge; we will not avoid our responsibilities, and prove to be good citizens. Pakistan Zindabad.Recommend
This is just beating about the bush. Let’s hold who is responsible to put Pakistan into a risk of war with USA. Tell us if OBL was kept on Saudi’s desires? With the news coming from a Saudi paper that internal rift between Osama and his vice led to the former’s killing and that the plan was hatched in Egypt. I suspect the Saudi has hinted their plan of the terror wave in Egypt in the coming days and months. God Bless EgyptiansRecommend
PAK military has been exposed . THE politicians dont count . LET mending work start by national unity which is no where evident. WE should look up to the youth as the generations in power have failed . LOOK at the region . THE YOUTH is taking matters into their hands.THIS is the only hope . WE dont need SPIN DOCTORS .THEY are present dime a dozenRecommend
@Nasrat Baloch:
No offence dude .. you reminded me of G W BUSH’s Quote
“Fool me once…shame on you… fool me twice….[long pause]….you fooled me can’t get fooled again…!!” Henh HeRecommend
Hey, who made this guy Foreign Secretary? he makes no sense…. But i also sympathize with him… what else could he say?? why isnt the Army talking, the real deciders of foreign and security policy of Pakistan.. Why is Mr. Bashir becoming a spokesperson for the security establishment?
Its hilarious to talk abt consequences.. absolute bonkers… Come guys, lets get serious plzzzzzzzzzzzz…Recommend
“Pakistanis should feel proud of their country and institutions”
Yes after all that I really feel proud of institutions particularly ISIRecommend
Decency dictates that the Defence Minister of Pakistan, alongwith the top military leadership, should resign. The Foreign Secretary, who happens to be the brother of the Naval Chief, represents a conflict of interest by leading the Foreign Office charge against a military leadership that has put Pakistan in a very shameful and embarrassing position. The military is supposed to defend the external borders of the country and not be involved in toppling civilian governments. The Abbottabbad event clearly proves that either the military is involved in supporting the terrorists or is totally incompetent to even know what is happening in its premier cantonment. It could be both. Salman Bashir should not exceed the mandate of his position and speak on behalf of the entire Foreign Office to defend a group of senior military leaders that include his own brother.Recommend
I did not knew ‘Nasr’ could cross the Atlantic Ocean.Recommend
Mr. Bashir you, your Govt. Your Armed forces and your ISI should be ashamed of themselves, Total failure to protect Pakistan and failing to respond to the intrusion makes me wonder what kind of people are running the country. Habouring a terrorist in the backyard of the academy and pretending that you guys had no knowledge is simply shameful. If you think you can fool the world by such contradicting statement you are just fooling yourselfs. You guys are disgraceful at best.Recommend
“Pakistan clarifies stance on Bin Laden operation, warns against future ventures”
Was this statement cleared by the Americans… Maybe Zardari or Gillani realized we are sovereign.
So the first one was NOT A PROBLEM?Recommend
The first question Pakistanis who do not support terrorist groups , should ask themselves is
Why did Bin Laden and so many other extrimists take refuge in Pakistan and consider it the safest place for themselves ? Bin Laded, Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, Dawood Ibrahim etc could not think of any other place safer in the world , than Pakistan.
The answer to that question will lead to the problem facing Pakistan.Recommend
They knew everything, ISI, army and government planned this together with the CIA. Thats the best scenario for Pakistani rulers, they can take verbal criticism from the west not cant afford a real action from the public at home.Recommend
There is a Joke:
A man slapped another man…the slapped man said If you do it again I will respond…..He was slapped again, and the slapped man said the same thing…..The man slapped him again and again and again…………………Recommend
@Rana:
We are good Citizens that’s why we have to hold those responsible for ‘eating’ our budget accountable.Recommend
@Babloo:
And why hundreds of al Qaida militants including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed have been captured by the help of ISI ? Why Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, who’s affiliated with the wider al-Qaida movement, only target Pakistani elements ?Recommend
Mr. Bashir…if you cant tell lie….then try to tell the truth…even after 10 years…Who did the opration….all confused…..let me tell the this drama…they opration was done not by USA seals but by Pakistan….This was planed not from now but from before….the visits of ISI cheif Pasha and meeting with CIA…evering thing was dedied pre-plan.… Pakistan has palyed excelent role….the statments of media… selection of place for this drama….who, when, how this drama will be…every thing was pre-planed. The live covrage of this drama to USA lobby etc every thing was planned.Recommend
@All
we should open our eyes now….. we must make alliances with China & Iran to twist the tails of the M F americans…Recommend
we must open our eyes now and our governments must make alliances with China and Iran to twist the tails of M F americans…..Recommend
Dollar Army, Dollar Politicians, Dollar Pakistan.Recommend
Gilllani . Zardari …
show some the world that ur country is adhering democracy … let the heads roll …from Army / ISI… do u have the guts to do so ???Recommend
Over heard that Americans remotely disabled all our Radars using a secret code before raid started and switched on after exit.Also heard that they can do the same with all assets they have supplied(Radars,Fighters,Transport planes,Helicopters, Ships, Tanks…etc).What will be our future, if that news is true?Recommend
Army and ISI is under cloud,they should prove othervise.Recommend
Take it easy, folks. Relax. The sky has not fallen. Our government decided after 9/11 to extend ‘unstinted support’ to the US in its war on terror, and war on Afghanistan. They were with the US in the 80s, too, when the Soviets came to assistt their socialist allies in Afghansitan. Musharraf’s succeessors continued the same policy, or perhaps went even further, indebted as they were to him and their US masters for the NRO that brought them to power.
What were you expecting, that they would stand up and counter the American commandos who came to get Osama? Musharraf handed over Pakistanis to the Americans for dollars, his sucessors handec over a murderer-spy and ostnsibly also paid money to ‘resuce’ him. Zardari is on record as having ‘allowed’ the americans a couple of years ago to act inside Pakistani territory to capture or kill Osama if there were ‘actionable intellgence.’ And they acted. When two allies are so unevenly balanced in military, technologcial and economic terms as the US and Pakistan , the weaker can balance the relationships only through political will and dignified bahaviour. Neither of these two commodities are found in adequate quantity in our ruling elite.[].Recommend
@Aryabhat:
there are plenty of Indian agents Pakistan have asked for from India too, has the Indian media told you about that? Do you know why India said they can’t handover their nationals even if they were guilty?
And WHO in their right mind would believe America and their excuse for not making information on Osama’s corpse public? And the reason they gave for a hurried “burrial at sea”?Recommend
Off Topic – can anybody confirm news circulating which says that UAE has started giving stapled visas to people from Azad Kashmir ?Recommend
It is a pleasure to see Indians expressing themselves “openly” on a supposedly Pakistani news site. I wish the Hindustan Times also offers such “liberty”…
They generally delete all comments against India, leaving “we are shining, we are shining, we are shining” type of self-praise or “Pakistan is terrorist”, “Pakistan is terrorist” type of statements ….
Thank you Herald Tribune’s “sister” in Pakistan for making me proud :-p
Lastly, I am sure India will start a war with USA, if something like this happens in that country :DRecommend
A nation is made up of its people. So unless we improve ourselves, there’s really no way our country will magically improve itself. We must rmember that our government, with all its faults, is in fact democratically elected by us. If it has failed us, somewhere, we too are to blame. If we find our ISI and Army are incompetent, the best we can do is perhaps join them and improve them ourselves. We are, all of us, Pakistanis, at the end of the day. And will be Pakistanis for as long as we live, and there’s nothing we can do about it.Recommend
Pakistan is a Atomic Power but the Army is useless.Look at North Korea(They are also Atomic power like us) and how they stand to American pressure with dignity and honour under bad economic conditions which is worst than Pakistan.The list of our Army failures are long such as 1965,1970,Kargil and now under American pressure.
We do not have to go to war with Americans but our army should atleast try to stand against there pressure like the North Koreans do.Pakistanis are spending billions of rupees to keep this army with out any results and they are very much disappointed with there failure to protect our skies and it was more or less aggression by a external power.
Our Army should stop conquering Pakistan every now and then and concentrate only on defence and protecting the constitution.They latest incident happened because they never respected the CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN IN THE LAST 63 YEARS.Recommend
After this stance of Mr. Salman Bashir. CIA will say “Hum To Darr Gayye”Recommend
Had it been Japan; the Army, Airforce & Intel Chiefs would have committed suicide!
I recall a young German [Michael Rust] landing his tiny machine in Red Square sometimes in mid 1987, undetected by Soviet Radar. The Defence Minister and the Head of Air Defence were fired spontaneously.Recommend
US seeks to Balkanize Pakistan
Interview with political observers Stephen Lendman from Chicago and Webster Tarpley from Washington
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/178338.html
Past Record of American GOVs
1- In order to turn publc of Cuba, It was planned to paint US plains as Cuban Planes and to attack Cuba. Target was that Cuban Public will uderstand that Planes of Feeral Castro are bombing them. So Public will revove Castro. But at final stage of Plan, President Kenedy refused.
2- It was planned to attack Japan. So in order to get support of public, pearl harbor [a sea port of USA] was bombed and destroyed by US planes but All Media was controlled and it was told to public that Japanese has attacked Pearl Horbor. Later Japan was attacked under this pretext.
3- 9/11 was an inside job. It was desighned to get support of public in order to attack Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Osama bin Laden has NO ANY RELATION with 9-11. Laden denied many times that he has no any relation with 9-11 attacks but Al-Jazira [being run by foreign agency] twisted his denial. Please watch attached Video fully.
4- Osama was already died in 2001 and some one else was living in Abottabad Pakistan. BUT American, Pakistani ISI+Pakistan Military Chiefs, CIA, Asaf Zardari, Rehman Malik & Yousaf Raza Gillani agreed to plan & write a movie script in which they will show Osama is killed in Abottabad. Did they show dead OBL to any journalists? NO. any witness except americans team? No. Target was to pull US army from Afghanistan and to have more attacks in side Pakistan in the name of imaginary Qaida. Zardari , ISI Kiyani Gilani Rehman Malik all are part of this game against Pakistan. Pakistan is being ruled by a Group of traitors and Pakistani public is a grp of 18 Crore dead bodies who do not have courage to remove that grp of traitors. Military Chief and ISI will not remove this grp of traitors as they are part of that team and they have already got three year and one year extension in service. This team of traitors were already aware that from Afghanistan Helicopters are coming to Abbotabad in order to picturize their movie script that was already written. Just note that Zardari, Kiayani, Gillani & Pasha & Zardari all immediely accepted what Americans claimed in Abottabad so called operation whith out asking a single Question that how we know that the story that what Americans are telling about Abottabad is CORRECT or FABRICATED? Where is 2nd witness? Why should u accept some thing with out an other evidence? Note that 99% TV in pakistan are also paid employee of a foreign agency. If u want to test, just watch a talk show on Pakistani TVs; when any one starts to speak truth against USA, host/anchor will immediately interfere with some non-sensical questions and will try to continue his/her shouts unless next person stops to tell truth. In this way audiance cannot listen the person who is telling truth. U can observe this behaviour in almost all TV Talk shows in pak.
Pls publish this truth and advance it to others. Do not forget to watch video given in this messageRecommend
@Mohammed Moinuddin:
North Korea doesn’t allow its citizens to leave the country and murders or enslaves the family’s of the people who do manage to escape. They are cut off from the world, and there are many who starve there because of it. You want Pakistan to be similar to North Korea really?Recommend
It is really surprising that those who keep on chanting the ‘root cause’ excuse are not talking about the root cause today.The root cause of US action was presence of Osama in a safe house in a city of Pakistan.
Other such people/groups namely LeT,JeM,LeJ,SSP,Mullah Omar,Ayman al Jawahiri,Haqqanis et al, proscribed by US/UN/World still find sanctuary in Pakistan. US has already indicated that if need be they will carry out similar action against similar targets again.
Pakistani establishment, Foreign Secretary included, has not shown any willingness to deal with these elements/ groups. Perforce, the world will have to deal with them, whether Pakistan likes it or not.
Million dollar question is, will the establishment jeopardise the well being of Pakistan for a bunch of terrorists.
Address the root cause, please.Recommend
“The Foreign Secretary, who happens to be the brother of the Naval Chief, represents a conflict of interest by leading the Foreign Office charge against a military leadership that has put Pakistan in a very shameful and embarrassing position. (…) It could be both. Salman Bashir should not exceed the mandate of his position and speak on behalf of the entire Foreign Office to defend a group of senior military leaders that include his own brother.”
You can’t seriously be inferring that any part of his statement defending the army and ISI had anything to do with his brother being Naval Chief? Remind me again what the Navy has to do with ANY of this and why he would even remotely feel the need to defend it in this situation?Recommend
@Abdul Jalil:
You say that Osama already died in 2002.
But he has left behind 3 wives (and several children) right here in Abbottabad who all say that….well. never mind… you know better than his wives !!!Recommend
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.US has been violating Pakistan’s sovereignty and integrity and Pakistani leaders have been giving such these types of verbal statements.Nothing has changed in the past,present and nothing shall change in the future.Because this is the bitter truth and reality that the beggars and slaves don’t have any authority of ordering but the beggars and slaves are only made for obeying the commandments of their masters and Pakistani beggars and slaves leaders have made Pakistan the USA’s beggar,slave and colony.Recommend