Pakistan

Pakistan didn't know about Bin Laden: Musharraf‎

In an interview with CBC News Musharraf said he is certain there was no complicity with ISI.

Express June 15, 2011

Former president Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday there is no way Pakistani authorities helped hide Osama bin Laden in their country.

In an interview with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) News about his plans to return to Pakistan in 2013, Musharraf said "I'm certain there was no complicity with Pakistani intelligence agencies."

"It's extremely embarrassing," Musharraf said. "Pakistan is not a banana republic. People coming in and out without the government knowing, that is bad from the government's point of view."

He expressed disappointment over the communiation gap between Pakistan and US intelligence.

In an interview last month, Musharraf said that the US raid which killed Bin Laden was technically “an act of war”.

Musharraf described US President Barack Obama’s statement that he would order another raid if necessary as “arrogant”.

Bin Laden was gunned down on May 2 by US Special Forces who attacked his hideout in Abbottabad. The US said it had carried out a unilateral assault.

Musharraf told CNN: “No country has a right to intrude into any other country.”

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COMMENTS (73)

Arshad Nadeem | 13 years ago | Reply No matter how Musharraf’s party and his well-wishers try to defend him, the fact of the matter is that he was at the helm of affairs when the PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in broad daylight in Rawalpindi. In fact, all the leads of the investigation point to him and his aides for their acts of omission and commission in this incident and in its aftermath. Mere statements cannot absolve him of his responsibility and involvement. Not only for Benazir Bhutto’s murder, General (retired) Musharraf has to answer for many other atrocities committed during his tenure, including the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, launching of a military operation in Balochistan, embroiling Pakistan in a neo-jihadi movement of the ‘good Taliban’ while going after the ‘bad Taliban’, undermining institutions of the state and much more. Musharraf has announced that he would come to Pakistan on March 23, 2012 to organise his party and prepare for the next elections. However, public memory is not so short. Not only will he have to face the anti-terrorism court, but also the court of the public and will have to answer for his wrongdoings. Perhaps it is not a gainful proposition to leave behind a luxurious life in London and enter the minefield of politics in Pakistan. He would be better off if he avoids the latter.

Reality | 13 years ago | Reply @vasan: Kargil was forcely occupied by India in 1984, in response, Pakistan sent its troops in Siachen....If you go to that area, people will not support Indian presence, which has damaged natural habitat by deploying 1000s of troops....WHO WILL ANSWER TO THAT INITIATIVE? Do you expect a response for all actions that has been initiated....

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jssidhoo | 13 years ago | Reply @sariya: We do Sariya but i feel being neighbors we do influence each other's lives hence i feel it is necessary to interact . My feeling is that there is an undercurrent of love between our people which does tend to get suppressed when we have events like war but the undercurrent is there which i have experienced whenever i have had the opportunity of meeting Pakistanis on a individual level . I feel that the powers that be on both sides are not serious about peace . In India the politicians play vote bank politics to ensure they get elected and in Pakistan the supposed threat from India suits the army their status of the 'holy cow' is maintained and they continue as the rulers. It is the common man on both sides who will be most benefited by if there is peace and free trade between the two countries so we have to try and do our bit .

sariya | 13 years ago | Reply do these indians dont have a newspaper of their own to read and comment!! :/

jssidhoo | 13 years ago | Reply @Maria: As a Kashmiri u should know what the UN resolution states that the first step is that Pakistan withdraw tribesmen and troops from Kashmir since this has not been done so far dont u think u should ask the Pakistan govt these questions

Thinking | 13 years ago | Reply @ shahid, Iwriteuread, and other delusional people - the double standards you state are just hilarious. Discussing the legality of Kashmir here or there isn't going to get resolved on this discussion board. I think the best outcome for all of Kashmir is complete independence from India, Pakistan, and China. But if you read the details, the plebiscite requires one for all parts of Kashmir together - not just the Indian portion. Please don't lecture people with your double standards. Mushurraf was a disaster. Kargil was a disaster for Pakistan and another reminder of it's inability to win against India. This is the fact. Pakistan has been the aggressor in 4 wars and lost each time. Let's find peaceful ways to resolve things since Pakistan's previous techniques have proven useless.

Ajaz Hindustani | 13 years ago | Reply Its true Pakistan didn't know about Bin Laden except PA & ISI.

Maria | 13 years ago | Reply @Kasim: Perhaps you don't understand that despite all of the challenges of Pakistan, most Kashmiris myself included would still join Pakistan because it is our destiny and it was cheated from us in 1947 by the Indians and British. It's not a question of jobs, money or stability but destiny. Have your vote now and see in a free and fair referendum whether what I say is true.

jagjit sidhoo | 13 years ago | Reply @Ashutosh: u r right for once he is on the right track

jagjit sidhoo | 13 years ago | Reply In the poll 32% or 122 people feel that the Pak govt did not now about OBL .Well that is a lot of brainwashed people not willing to pull their heads out of the sand . It is going to be a very slow and painful recovery for Pakistan because if this is the mindset of so many of the people who read ET one can imagine what is the extent of brainwashing of the rest of the public.

Aslam | 13 years ago | Reply @Shahid: When Maharaja of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession, at that moment Kashmir became the part of India. If you don't like the fact, that is your problem. Ever wonder, why Pakistan doesn't get diplomatic support for plebiscite?

Uncle Buttar | 13 years ago | Reply But you did!!!

Ashutosh | 13 years ago | Reply @Maria: I had read few of your comments earlier ... but this time you talk sense .... Congratulations !

ashok sai | 13 years ago | Reply @Qasim: You cannot ask for both !!!

Qasim | 13 years ago | Reply Long live Musharraf - long live Pakistan.

grink | 13 years ago | Reply @G. Din: Can we agree to diagree?

grink | 13 years ago | Reply @Maria: Actually all these problems go back to the worst dictator Zia ul Haq, mentor and political father of Nawaz Sharif.

Udaya Bose | 13 years ago | Reply @Natasha Suleman: When was the last time this person didn’t lie – shamelessly. Recommended25 One wonders how a person with such a forked tongue could become Chief of the Army. One expects a tradition of honour and uprightness from a person who holds this hallowed office.

grink | 13 years ago | Reply @Nazir Habib: The "the reverential Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan" ??? He got himself allotted TWO plots!!! Nawaz Sharif is actually toothless! Time will tell IF and when he he enters the corridors of power.

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply The 'Night Hero' has started whistling in his dreams. Musharraf! there is a permanent arrest warrant out for you so please understand that your gallivanting days are over. You can't rest in any part of the world and sooner or later you will have to face your nemesis, the reverential Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. What good is all the funding being done to the Pak Army (ISI) if they don't know who their immediate neighbors are? Moreover, Nawaz Sharif is also sharpening his teeth. Salams.

Maria | 13 years ago | Reply @Shafiq Nasery: What you are saying is very personal and makes no sense. Do you not see that Musharraf is a main reason for all the current problems? Do you not see that all Muslim nations are trying to throw out dictators like in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Libya and Yemen. Why do you think Pakistan needs another decade of a dictator like Musharraf when he caused many of the current problems? And no, Pakistan still isn't as bad as Afghanistan but with someone like Musharraf it will become more like Afghanistan!

Tariq | 13 years ago | Reply What an answer, must be his lawyer told him to say this "I am certain there was no complicity" This leaves him a way out. The jerk is responsible for the Taliban and Al Qaeda, if he did not know than what the hell was he doing as President and Chief of the Army, in either case he is either incompetent or a conspirator with the terrorists

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply IWriteYouRead: We are not here to discuss what TIME writes and whether it is wrong or not. If we go into what all TIME has written on Pakistan, Kashmir etc, you will not know where to hide India's stand on Siachen is clear, India moved in first and it was unmarked area in any agreement. So it does not belong to pakistan for you to crib. We would rather occupy the area so that it does not get donated to China. For the facts of who triggered 1965 war and the other wars, I have already quoted your own country's paper and from your own Airmarshall. Do u mean to say the Air Marshall lied. That normally is done by politicians. I suggest UdontWriteWrongLestOthersDontRead Waqas: Neither Kargill nor Kashmir is Pakistan's even if you shout from roof top. Remember Baluchistan, What is good for the goose is good for the gander as well. If u want I can quote the Balochistan history from Pak papers as well.

kritik1 | 13 years ago | Reply People under estimate the brutal strength of the monster. Thanks mostly in part by the ISI. Pakistan has never lost control to the Taliban-AlQaida and if they lost control by deceptive attacks, Pakistan has always re-gained control. So Banana Republic and "failed State" are just theories visualized by some and not a fact.

kritik1 | 13 years ago | Reply Musharraf like many other military leaders worked closely with the ISI, and so it is likely that Musharraf not only gets updates from ISI, but since the ISI is tight lipped and hardly ever makes statement, this may be the ISI own choice to let Musharraf speak. The ISI may be trusting Musharraf more than it trusts the present civilian government. This may also be Musharraf ploy to get popular with the Pakistan Public.

G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply @grink: "Cowardice was actually on the part of Sher-e-Punjab whoe asked army to retreat!" We know what kind of history they teach you in your schools in Pakistan. But you cannot be blamed for that. However, we are talking here about current affairs. There is no excuse for you to remain unknowledgeable about the events that unfolded before your eyes. Please read the newspapers of the time to correct your views. It was Musharraf who panicked and rushed to Nawaaz Sharif to beg him to ask Clinton to intervene. Nawaaz Sharif phoned Clinton and asked for an immediate meeting. This was on the day prior to an American national holiday. Clinton refused but Nawaz Sharif pressed. Clinton agreed on the condition that there would be an immediate recall of all Pakistani forces to which Nawaz Sharif agreed. Musharraf is a dishonourable man who was caught red-handed committing an illegal act and aggression on a neighour. Perhaps you know that the self-declared commando repaid his PM subsequently by mounting a coup against him and threatening him with hanging!

Kasim | 13 years ago | Reply @Waqas: Yes. Still we want to occupy Kashmir. Our country is well developed in all the areas like Education, Science & Technology, Medical, Engineering, Space research and what not. Our economy is booming like anything and will surpass US by coming 5000 years. There is no signs of terrorism in any parts of our Country because our Security Agencies are very active. What is wrong in thinking that Indian Kashmir will join with us and Vote for us in case of Referendum. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Feel the reality... I also will be happy if any of the above is true.. Unfortunately nothing is true as of now. Khuda Hafiz.

I write U read | 13 years ago | Reply @vasan: Do you know Time wanted to put up Kashmir as disputed territory on its coverpage and YOUR GOVT forced them to term it as Indian Held Kashmir... If you says its not disputed doesnt change the truth dude. And BTW, in your explanation you dint mention what is india's stance on siachen...mind sharing? Paki soldiers moved up siachen when indian intrusion was detected! Your attacks triggering 1965 war was also an intrusion... Lest you point finger at our leaders for being practicing double standards--straighten up yours! We are here for their correction and do not want bias towards Pakistan and its people.

Solomon2 | 13 years ago | Reply

In an interview last month, Musharraf said that the US raid which killed Bin Laden was technically “an act of war”.

The legal definition of "an act of war": An act of war is an action by one country against another with an intention to provoke a war or an action that occurs during a declared war or armed conflict between military forces of any origin. There was no intent by the U.S. to provoke a war with Pakistan. No Pakistanis were killed or injured, nor was any Pakistani force engaged. So unless Musharraf confesses that Osama Bin Laden was a tool of the Pakistani military, the U.S. raid was NOT "an act of war" against Pakistan.

Kamran | 13 years ago | Reply Why is this man still in the news? Some people just don't know where to give up. There was a whole movement against him and he resigned himself! Now go away!

Dr.A.K.Tewari | 13 years ago | Reply Mush and Bush combination is needed once again .

husn | 13 years ago | Reply @Waqas: India wil NEVER move out of Kashmir, and nobody can do anything about it

R | 13 years ago | Reply Some famous or infamous things Pakistan "didn't know" - about Musharraf: In 1998 brought in OBL to put down the Shia uprising in Gilgit. Thousands were massacared. The area was resettled with Punjabis and Pakhtoons. Imposed a war on India (Kargil) without the approval of the people and the elected PM. Conducted a coup and exiled the PM. Promised to take power for a few months - only to rig elections and stay in for a decade Rented Pakistan to Uncle within 24 hours, when given the ultimatum of 'either you are with us or against us'. He took no one into confidence in Pakistan. Produced terrorists of Arab descent when Uncle threatened but hid the "good strategic assets" to foment mayhem in India and Afghanistan. Used Uncle to sell the story that only one man - A Q Khan, was sending military C17s and cargo ships loaded with sensitive nuclear materials around the world. Military just did not know about it! 7 "Pakistan first" was his motto - he is not in Pakistan but always first in seeking the microphone to talk about himself. He is "first". He holds various properties in Pakistan, London and New York and lives overseas. Where did all this wealth come from? 9 Hid OBL in Pakistan, on his self appointed tenure as President and Chief (he always insisted he was Chief) but he did not know about it!

Ashutosh | 13 years ago | Reply @Waqas: Oh ! You mean to say Kargil was our own land ... and now Pakistani Army had been defeated and thrown out of their own land ... . Any Pakistani supporting Waqas's argument???

Mao | 13 years ago | Reply So American for decades finance to support him to harbor Bin Laden and they're not doubt Taliban and Al Qualda are together set up in Parkistan to against American to steal more of their moneys through these set up illogic , twisted and chaotics for weaponry business , again to hurt Americans - After all Americans pushes Americans to war and hurt them self to skim their money - Now the clean up may cut their links to find out and agents overseas has been drop the ball of supports due to the conflicts of current policies........IMHO

curious1 | 13 years ago | Reply @Illiterate jehadi: I like your comment, Sir. It fits your selected name.

grink | 13 years ago | Reply @G. Din: Cowardice was actually on the part of Sher-e-Punjab whoe asked army to retreat!

hamza khan | 13 years ago | Reply @Natasha Suleman: stop being a hater.

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply Shahid & IWriteUread: Pl learn more about Kashmir, Kargil and Siachen disputes from a neutral source or from a well informed source in Pakistan. That will explain who is on the wrong and right. My contention is Kargil is in India's possession and Pak cannot trespass. Period. Disputes need settlement is not in dispute. That is why India does not intrude POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir). Mush (the architect of Kargil intrustion by Pak), saying "no country can intrude another country" is nothing but pure double standards. For a starting point, you can refer "Myths versus realities —Sheikh Asad Rahman" in Daily times dated 13th or 14th June, 2011 where he quotes Air Marshal Asghar Khan on all disputes between India and Pakistan. That will throw more light

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply Whatever Musharraf states, opposite is true. Abbotabad mansion with high security walls was constructed during his regime only and OBL had shifted to this den before he was ousted. The General is clearly worried that after BB's case, another one should not fall in his lap.

Waqas | 13 years ago | Reply @ Vasan On Kargil Pakistan was not intruding into another country but our own land OCCUPIED by India. You better get your facts right

Urooj Hussein | 13 years ago | Reply @Natasha Suleman: Very well said Natasha !!

Urooj Hussein | 13 years ago | Reply @Billoo Bhaya: Brilliantly said !!!

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply I suspect everyone outside of Pakistan believes that hiding OBL was an act of war ---- finding and killing OBL was justice.

Q | 13 years ago | Reply Great Leader. Long Live Musharraf.

Munir | 13 years ago | Reply We miss Musharraf.

G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply "Musharraf told CNN: “No country has a right to intrude into any other country.” It is perfect right of any Islamic country to train beastly barracudas to intrude into any other country and cause havoc and mayhem, is that it? @Shahid: to vasan "...So, to talk about Kargil, one needs to understand very very clearly that it is not India, but disputed territory." So, if it is a disputed territory, why did you move back into "the undisputed" part of the same territory with your tails between your legs? You should have stayed put, proclaiming that you had as much right to be there as India. Why didn't you? Cowardice, may be? Or, an usurper's bad conscience?

Overprotected | 13 years ago | Reply @Shafiq Nasery: Totally agreed. Thanks for showing your concern, Love you bro.

salahuddin | 13 years ago | Reply @aamir saeed: Non Muslim like jews and christians are happy that there snakes in the grass why they need to push their fellows among us. Did u ever listen any jew calling their religion terrorist religion or rebuking their education. Did u ever listen christians calling their churches mess. We must be. Ashamed .no one will stay here in. Thiis world foreever. Leave this enlightened moderation.

Illiterate jehadi | 13 years ago | Reply @ Shafiq...great to hear these kind words abt General sb from an Afghan brother...General sb was and is indeed the best!

Illiterate jehadi | 13 years ago | Reply We believe on you sir!!!

harry stone | 13 years ago | Reply Let me see if I understand this correctly. ISI could not find bin Laden but in over a little of a month it could find those who helped the US. If anything this seems to make the case that bin Laden was helped by elements of the Pakistan government.

IWriteURead | 13 years ago | Reply As per Wikipedia is: "Banana republic is a pejorative term that refers to a politically unstable country dependent upon limited primary productions (e.g. bananas), and ruled by a small, self-elected, wealthy, corrupt politico-economic plutocracy or oligarchy." And I guess we are 99% in synch with the definition. How can you say we are not one? You could sounded more promising like "we need to change the fact that we are a banana republic now!"

IWriteURead | 13 years ago | Reply @Vassan ---Did you guys apply it to Siachen and Disputed Kashmir?

dude | 13 years ago | Reply So its incompetence ?? -- yes he accepted by saying that..

AD | 13 years ago | Reply Ya..he is right.But few Pakistanis knew.May be some Canteen guy at ISI office or driver of PM or may be Prez.What about Gen Kayani ..no no he is not that informed.Ah...Gen Pasha is still a kid.I think he is right no body knew.I can say with 100% confidence after this in-depth analysis.

ishrat salim | 13 years ago | Reply Unless we seperate religion from politics..this is number one...second ban fuedalism / waderas & Jagirdari system as India has done...things will not improve....the only reason for democracy to flourish in UK was for them to seperate church from the state more than 200 yrs ago...

Shahid | 13 years ago | Reply @vasan: Dear friend, Musharraf is right when he says, neither country has a right to intrude into any another country. As far as Kashmir is concerned, as India has signed a declaration in UN that it is a disputed territory, now as it is under 3 countries, China occupied, Pakistan occupied and Indian Occupied Kashmir, one must understand that surely it is not integral part of India, Pakistan or China. So, to talk about Kargil, one needs to understand very very clearly that it is not India, but disputed territory. So, neither country has any right to intrude other country's territory, and so it should be.

Shafiq Nasery | 13 years ago | Reply I am an Afghan and i don't think i should say what is good for Pakistan and what is not but certainly this person (musharaf) can save Pakistan from these jackals, Pakistan is going thru really bad time even worse then us (Afghanistan), he had really helped the country grow not only economically but also in point of better governance and better stability. so if pakistani people really needs someone who can run the country should ask for him and ask the zardari and gilani elements out of pakistan. again is an opinion from an afghan brother to pakistani brothers nothing personal.

ashok sai | 13 years ago | Reply He is rubbing salt into the wounds.

Ashutosh | 13 years ago | Reply Ya ya .... Musharraf is an honest Pakistani ...

Nomaan | 13 years ago | Reply Musharraf sb, these comments and respective actions should have been shown when you were running the country single handedly. Unfortunately you laid the very seeds for pushing our beloved country to be classified as a "banana republic". As ragards arrogance, you were no different on the 12th of May when you spoke in Islamabad. At least Obama is aiming for a "so called" threat. What were you and your well wishers aiming for on the 12th of May in Karachi? Your own innocent nation!

Generally kuch Kiyanahi | 13 years ago | Reply Forget OBL, what about Benazir Bhutto? Did you know about her assassination? Have you ever spoken the truth?

parvez | 13 years ago | Reply So its incompetence ??

Billoo Bhaya | 13 years ago | Reply Here comes the Oracle of Delphi prognosticating what, when and if went wrong and no one is to blame. Under his very nose, under his Corp Commanders and ISI, did OBL relocate to Abbottabad of all places. Summer home of the rich and well to do Pakistani military staff. Also Military's Academy right in the heart of the city. And no one knows who's living in that high walled house?? Come, come Oracle. You must have known it!!! I wish the Americans had got OBL when you were running the show. Then they would not have given you asylum and you would have been sitting in the cooler, perhaps in Abbottbad, in that very house that belonged to OBL. That would have been really ironic!!!

Natasha Suleman | 13 years ago | Reply When was the last time this person didn't lie - shamelessly.

naveed afridi | 13 years ago | Reply Seperate mosque and state.It's the only way to save pakistan.As long as religion is allowed to dictate terms to the state,our rotten national condition will continue. instead of using terms like 'mujahideen' or 'shaheed' for these religious terrorists the media should start calling them by what they really are: cold blooded murderers killing in the name of religion.our people should know that this is not 'jihad' it is 'fasaad' and these jihadi terrorists have murdered 35000 of our own people.

aamir saeed | 13 years ago | Reply forget whethe we knew or not,that is over.what should be of importance now is our govt's continuing support to the islamic fanatics in our country. our authorities don't crack down on these groups,the police doesn't raid and close down the madrassas where religious terrorists are brainwashed in the first place. in dozens of the attacks on us,polic have found that the islamic terrorists took refuge in,hid their weapons in,were provided training at these madrassas.why does our state refuse to take on the religious fascists who have penetrated evey aspect of our life? why are saudi arabia and iran still being allowed to fund political parties and mosques and madrassas in pakistan,when we all have seen the disastrous results of the funding of these countries into pakistan.

Almas Abbas | 13 years ago | Reply I have always liked Musharraf's straightforwardness and this time also! but i wonder if Pakistani government is now in a position to show this king of guts as Musharraf said especially the aid Pakistan has been taking from US in past and present and also the self-centeredness of Zardari!

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply Musharraf told CNN: “No country has a right to intrude into any other country.” Does it apply to Kargil?? What a shame. Mush claims diff sets of rules for Pakistan and other countries

Moise | 13 years ago | Reply Not a banana republic? Why do our finance minister come from banks abroad?

sam | 13 years ago | Reply now can you expect such well though out comments being made by our PM or president???? WE NEED MUSHARRAF!!!

Pakistani in US | 13 years ago | Reply And this is a news..?

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