If senior Pakistani officials knew about former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director general Michael Hayden says he cannot find a logical reason as to why they would not share such information with the US.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on the sidelines of the Aspen Security Forum, Hayden, the ex-CIA spymaster from 2006-2009, said that this was merely his own opinion and not based on any specific evidence, as he was not in office at the time. “If someone has a contrary position, they are going to have to show me some facts,” Hayden said.
While declining to comment specifically on the US drone programme, Hayden said: “The president [Barack Obama] has made it very clear that we have worked very hard to take our enemies off the battlefield. I think we have been very successful in making the organisation that attacked us on 9/11 less capable of attacking the US again.”
However, he said that while using drones was a successful tactic, which he supports, it needed to be part of a broader strategic approach that addresses the US’ relationship with Pakistan. “Frankly, it saddens me to say that the way we view the problem and the way the Pakistani government views the problem today isn’t nearly as close as it used to be. So, as we go forward and carry out such tactical practices, I think we also have to keep in mind the long-term strategic relationship, and we need to tend to its costs and benefits to the best of our abilities both in Washington and in Islamabad.”
ISI chief’s visit to the US
General Hayden added that he had seen press reports that Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence chief General Zaheerul Islam would be visiting the US soon to meet his CIA counterpart General David Petraeus.
“I think the important thing is that they develop a common understanding of the threat, a common understanding of the situation. I mentioned before that we have a government whose policy seems to be divergent, that may be based on a different view of what is going on.” Hayden said that, “I’ve found that candid, honest exchanges of information between intelligence services very often gives policymakers more common ground on which to build more complimentary, more consistent, and, frankly, more successful, policies.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
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It seems that Michael Hayden hadn't got the logic right. If Bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad were known to senior Pakisani officials, the CIA wouldn't have been able to liquidate him in May 2011, because he would have been long gone. Only very few people knew of bin Laden's existence in Pakistan.
Both sides have safe havens in heir remote areas. Shawal,Waziristan in Pakistan,Kunnar, Noristan in Afghanistan.
Recently attacks from both sides also rise serious concerned of whether Afghan forces will be prepared to take over security responsibilities for the entire country once American and Nato forces withdraw by the end of 2014.
Impossible,the time frame as announced by state depart is a part of American diplomacy.They have no plan to withdraw from Afghanistan.They know Afghan government under the stooge leadership has not enough capability to face Islamist extremists.
An independent reliable sources quoted an American top-ranked leader as saying,'' ''the agreement ,we signed with Afghanistan, a signal to Taliban that they can not wait us out
United States want precondition negotiation with Taliban,which has already turn down by the Taliban.It is impossible to the last extent.
During the video conference this fact has come to surface that on 52 different occasions in the last eight months Pakistan had provided to American and NATO commanders in Afghanistan the locations from which the militants were attacking, in side Pakistan.
But no Nato,American military command and Afghan government drew attention on it on the contrary they started blame game and put the responsibility on Pakistan by highlighting Haqqani Net Work's insurgent's activities.notwithstanding the fact that District Noristan and Shawal district are widely known as a global terrorist's hub.
The fact, attributed to the ground reality is that combating forces have lost their nerves and now want forceful assistance from Pakistan which is in a position to play a crucial role winning the decade long war swallowed numberless lives from all the sides.
Concept of winning the war is wrong have no firm foundation.Russian had the same desire but failed and before this UK tested its power but had to go back.
It is not a prediction, it is fact,reveals by the existing circumstances,mediation will be a agreed point for all the stake holders and United Nations is already in action for this purpose,vide secretary general's activities.
This is the reason why this clown (Hayden) could not track down OBL. None of the bushies had the correct gut instinct when it came to foreign affairs. Their approach of throwing money at the commando shows how clueless they were. Now, a few years out of office, Hayden says something so clueless, and we are supposed to believe him
One can see that US Generals have certainly learned some lessons from ISPR, let hope they too don't learn too much and go into denial modes! Perhaps this is just a sugar coating to keep GHQ quiet and contended, while bigger attacks and Drone strikes commence ! Any way, since when has Pakistanis accepted that OBL was residing in their Country ?
Finally Americans talking some sense rather then hurling baseless allegations.
US present motto is to keep Pakistan in good humour which might only last till 2014 and thereafter dump it in the high seas.
Why they are not asking this Question to General Musharaf . . .????
and why will US spare us if Pakistan was really hiding OBL. They knew about his presence for 10 months before taking him out finally. Now don't come up with anything stupid that they were preparing for the attacks all those months .,..Ofcourse they were verifying Pakistani link quietly and when they finally didn't got any link they just busted OBL in their own way.
Osama's chapter is over and kindly don't waste time on dead people. We have better things to do.
a General never speaks general!
I thought that only the Generals of Pakistan Armed Forces change their attitude to realism only after retiring from services. But I realise that it applies to the US, as well.
Looks like a coverup is in progress between the two old allies of the two countries, general to general talk and confidence building has started.
a terrorist hide himself in a house where some children,women,civilians are staying and US drone fires missiles onto that house.All including terrorist killed.