Pakistan

Incompetence to blame over Bin Laden: Musharraf

Musharraf blames incompetence by Pakistan's intelligence agencies for allowing Bin Laden to live undetected.

Afp May 06, 2011

WASHINGTON: Former president Pervez Musharraf Friday blamed incompetence by the country’s intelligence agencies for allowing al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to live undetected in Pakistan for years.

"One can draw only two conclusions," Musharraf told National Public Radio.

"One is complicity from our intelligence agencies. The second is incompetence and I strongly believe in the latter," Musharraf said.

"I cannot imagine that there was complicity."

Pakistan has come under fire for failing to track down the world's most wanted man, who was shot dead in a US commando raid on Monday in a compound in Abbottabad.

Reports have said the architect of the September 11, 2011 attacks on the United States may have been living for five years in Abbottabad, in the shadow of a top military academy, and close to the homes of many retired generals.

Asked whether he was upset that he did not know that Bin Laden had been sheltering in Pakistan during his presidency, Musharraf said: "Frankly, yes."

"It is terrible," he replied, adding he wanted to ask intelligence officials "why the hell did you not know?"

But he ruled out any complicity, saying that even US President Barack Obama had praised Pakistani intelligence services for providing vital information which led to Bin Laden.

"If there was complicity, why would anyone pass on such intelligence?" he asked.

COMMENTS (25)

harkol | 13 years ago | Reply This is the guy who said AQ Khan was alone in his Proliferation and air-lifted tons worth of material all by himself! Wonder why Britain even keeps him!!

syed Imran | 13 years ago | Reply Musharraf landed this country in this quagmire and today he talks of incompetency. Who can be more incompetent than him when he decided on a spur of moment to side with the Americans not realizing, it will have far reaching consequences for the existence of this country. Pakistan lost 43000 dead,$ 64bn loss to economy and country very existence in question?

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Rabia Qureshi | 13 years ago | Reply and this man knows well how to convince the nation. The words making sense at least. Logics forming the basis of claims. very unlike the present goofs who tend to fool the nation at their own level of insanity.

Rabia Qureshi | 13 years ago | Reply And this man really knows how to convince the Nation. The words making sense at least.The logics forming the basis of claims.

bahraini | 13 years ago | Reply @Mirza: Zardari and Nawaz with their billions in hard currency scapegoats??Joke of the day!!

bahraini | 13 years ago | Reply @NO JOY: Absolutely! neither was it incompetence or complicity. High profile terrorists or crimnals most wanted change their hideouts regularly. Some are known to be at different locations every night!

bahraini | 13 years ago | Reply @khan: Please read the relevant portion of the interview again. He did not say what is being alleged.

Chilli | 13 years ago | Reply This is your mess and you are squarely responsible for all miseries, thousands of deaths and loss of pride. You have not done your job well and enjoying your life outside Pakistan.

NO JOY | 13 years ago | Reply had it been incompetence,..we cant expect Osama to be so naive to build his hideout near a so highly guarded military installation...

Crazy guy | 13 years ago | Reply Amrullah Saleh, former head of the National Directorate of Security … put this to Pakistan’s then president, Gen Pervez Musharraf, he grew furious and smashed his fist on the table, said Saleh. "Am I the president of the Republic of Banana?"' http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/05/pakistan-army-osama-bin-laden

khan | 13 years ago | Reply his interview with newsweek. he equates Pashtuns with terrorists. he is an irresponsible and a very puerile person. http://www.newsweek.com/2011/05/05/interview-pervez-musharraf.html

Armaghan | 13 years ago | Reply Oh sure General, we believe you. It's only under your tenure that the fortified compound became OBL's home sweet home near Kakul. Seems you are going for the incompetence defense . Glad you accept now what the people tried explaining to you about your abilities back when you clung to your throne. Dair Aye, Per Darrust Aye

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply Yes! the redoubtable night hero, Mr. Musharraf, has spoken out on two significant pointers that would lead the reader in believing what he is saying. Complicity and, Incompetence. Both are eye-openers are mind boggling. We are certainly caught between 'a rock and a hard place' and have some very serious thinking to do and answers to give. A 'fait accompli.' No excuses. Just plain facts which the world of spy games is aware of, and the truth to the people. No more playing with the destiny of the nation or putting up front certain politicians to beckon to their call. The policies of this nation require a complete metamorphosis, both internal and external. Salams for 2011.

Massileaks | 13 years ago | Reply So a naturalized U.S. citizen Faisal Shehzad plots terrorist attacks while living in America, buys bomb related material, communicates with his criminal friends while in America, plants the bomb at Time Square, get back home, buys tickets, clears security of a big airport and boards the plane...all this done under the NOSE OF American intelligence organization CIA. The most experienced and technically advanced spy organization. The organization which is so technically advanced that it can track a terrorist thousand of miles away in waziristan and sends a drone to kill. The organization which located Osama bin laden in Pakistan without help from Pakistani spy agency. YET this same organization failed to arrest Faisal till he had boarded the plane. Hummmm it’s hard to believe that CIA didn’t know of Faisal plans or whereabouts.

amjad | 13 years ago | Reply Hillary Clinton and others had ben hinting again and again in this regard. US wanted Pakistan to come clean and gave ample time and oppurtunity, but the fools never took the cue.. Does he have any comments? Is some one going to pay a price for their "complicity" or "incompetence"?

Pakistani Canadian | 13 years ago | Reply Musharraf says “If there was complicity, why would anyone pass on such intelligence?” he asked. Well gee, General, that's some mighty fine logic you're applying there. You think they can be incompetent enough to not know where OBL was hiding for over 5 years (a major blunder if true), but you don't think they can be incompetent enough to pass on information that they weren't supposed to (far minor blunder since it was raw intelligence)? Waah!

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply It is all bloody civilian and elected official's fault. Corrupt Zardari should be overthrown and brought to Punjab Hhigh court and tried just like ZAB was. After the East Pakistan and Kargil Pakistan army did find a scapegoat in ZAB and Nawaz Sharif. It is very easy for them to punish Zardari and Gilani as they are already "incompetent and corrupt". Nobody including Mush should ever be responsible and have more palaces in DHA. After all no general has ever been even tried let alone punished for all their atrocities, incompetence and multiple acts of treason. The generals are gods and they should only be worshiped. It is a shame that they were disturbed in their peaceful sleep.

Bambbaayyaa | 13 years ago | Reply Look into his eyes ... when he says that .... U will know ... he has always lied ....and spoken half truths ... and selective truth ...as generally a pakistani wud ...

Khurram | 13 years ago | Reply "One is complicity from our intelligence agencies. The second is incompetence and I strongly believe in the latter,” The Americans had known about this complicity and duplicity all along, only now we have been cought with our pants down, of course General Musharraf being yourself a leading player in this cat and mouse game who would be more qualified than you are to answer this question.

Lobster | 13 years ago | Reply At last he has admitted himself incompetent !!

ba ha | 13 years ago | Reply If incompetence and cowardice had a face its Musharaff

TightDhoti | 13 years ago | Reply Hold on, werent you in charge for half of that period? Does not that make you party to the incompetency.

hassan | 13 years ago | Reply The General was presented with two choices: Collusion or Incompetence. Which is a lesser evil? The General has thought long and hard. The General has chosen wisely !! It is incompetence !! Since, it is a typical third world thing, will you understand and allow us to get back to work please?

Tilsim | 13 years ago | Reply As if Musharraf has any clue what's going on. Why do they keep wheeling him out. He is well past his sell by date.

Aamer | 13 years ago | Reply he wanted to ask intelligence officials “why the hell did you not know?” ..And why the hell did you not know? You were the COAS and President in 2006 when he reportedly moved into this home.

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