ISLAMABAD:
The United States was ‘60 per cent sure’ of Osama bin Laden’s presence in the Abbottabad compound where he was killed on May 2 but chose to “delay its operation knowing the implications it would have on its relationship with Pakistan”, The Express Tribune has learnt.
“There has never been a dispute on targeting al Qaeda. The ISI had translated a communication of (Abu Ahmed) al Kuwaiti (Bin Laden’s courier) from Arabic for the CIA which ultimately led to the compound of the al Qaeda chief,” a source said. “The ISI had somehow failed to follow that communication,” the source added.
The source slammed a statement from the CIA chief after the May 2 operation as ‘rubbing salt into their wounds’. Leon Panetta, who is now President Barack Obama’s top defence adviser, had said that Pakistan was either complacent or incompetent in the Bin Laden issue.
“The US and Pakistan have realisation to cooperate against the common enemy (terrorism). But undefined arrangements have resulted in (CIA contractor) Raymond Davis-like incidents that had brought embarrassment for us. We have to set parameters to avert such situations in future. We must work out arrangements acceptable to both sides,” the source said.
After the May 2 raid Pakistan’s image was tarnished abroad. “Had this operation been carried out by Pakistani forces, things would have been different,” the source said and added that Pakistan-US relations should be redefined, documented and streamlined.
“The militaries and governments of the two countries should cooperate with each other against the common enemy. And pressure should be eased from Pakistan because it constricts space for manoeuvres. We are losing space which is required for success against the militants,” the source said.
The source insisted that both sides need to know each other’s terms of reference. “Leave the judgment to us, let us read our environment, we have to shape the condition, it cannot happen on the wishes of others”.
About Afghanistan, the source said Pakistan has strong reservations over the capability of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to tackle security following the withdrawal of foreign troops from the war-torn country. “If the US Congress loses interest in Afghanistan, the ANA would be facing severe financial problems.”
The source said that parts of the Afghan province of Nuristan are under the Taliban control. Foreign forces have pulled out from all forward bases in Kunar and Nuristan provinces. And the source said that because of this flocks of militants are using these regions as launching pads for undoing Pakistani forces’ achievements in Mohmand and Bajaur tribal regions.
About the Shamsi airbase, the source said that the US forces have vacated from most parts of it. “There are no drones at the Shamsi airbase. They are operating from Afghanistan.” The source added that there was no agreement with the US on the drone campaign and the base was given to the US for logistics and not active operations. “To our judgment the drone campaign is counterproductive, which is further complicating the problem,” the source said.
The source quashed as untrue the popular western notion that Pakistan was not doing more or moving in a certain direction in the fight against militancy. “Pakistani forces have regained control of Damadolla, in Bajaur Agency, which was the al Qaeda headquarters,” the source said.
They are also fighting against their own people. “This puts lots of constraints on the military… We want sustainable peace and military operations do not guarantee sustainable peace, the source said and added that there should be a non-military solution to the issue.
The source said that the government was trying to restore the ‘old order’ which was working in the tribal areas. “We must give back this area to (Pakhtun) tribes, so that they must not join hands with the militants.”
The source claimed that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was banished from Bajaur and Mohmand and its chapter in Swat has been closed. “A lot of them (TTP militants) have been killed. Nearly 1,500 militants have surrendered in Mohmand Agency, where the forces have destroyed seven IED-making factories,” the source said but added that complete purge would take some time.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2011.
COMMENTS (29)
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Look at the positive. At least they(US) feared about a fallout in relationship. We are still valued.The moral of the story is, 'we can still ask for some money'.
Vienna,01-08-2011 Boys and girls, make note concern yourself not with U.S.A now but with all weather friend Mandarin China, which is under attack from Pakistani soil. No more day dreaming.PLEASE. Wake up. I wish you all the best, Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring,TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
Hog wash you want us to believe it?
@agthagola: The meaning of "insane" are " exhibiting unsoundness or disorded of mind; not sane; mad; deranged in mind; delirious; distracted". After properly understanding the meaning, now please read my post again. .
Had this operation been carried out by Pakistani forces, things would have been different. Drone attacks, CIA activities and lack of progress in Afghanistan are fuelling a rift between the US and Pakistan.
Leave the Afghanis alone.Every one should pull out their forces from there. The Afghanis will then solve all their problems by doing the only thing they know--Kill Each Other.Remember Burhanuddin Rabbani as President and Gulbadin Hikmatyar as Prime Minister fighting it out after Soviets pull out from Afghanistanin 1989.
Can I please request the express tribune to exercise restraint and not publish every idiotic comment by these stupid bunch of over zealous indian asses. Nuke Pakistan..... Are you kidding me ...they come and post it in a Pakistani paper and you publish this.....
USA could not have conducted this raid in partnership with Pakistan. The only way was to do it alone. Pakistan cannot be trusted to keep confidential information confidential.
@First drink, don't think: @first drink... Remember, it was not long time ago when a US diplomat threatened to send all of you to stone age. Time to get rid of al Zawahiri and all the Lashkars and also Talibans. Do think !
@farhan: I believe every hindu in the world is day dreaming about nuking Pakistan, however at night they have nightmares of retaliation by Pakistan. Bottom line is "IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO NUKE PAKISTAN' by india or for that matter any country in the world. Retaliation will be unimaginable.
@Ashutosh: Who want to Nuke Pakistan? Gone those days when Pk could have been nuked. Now Pakistan has the capacity to evaporated any country or internation alliance in less than 2 hours. If you do not believe me then just try. Brng it on my friend.
@danish: Do not underestimate Pakistan's resilence. It is tough nut and has survived all the odds. Fundamentalist hindus terrorist started saying that it will collapse from very first day of its birth. PK not only survived but now is able to keep a check on any evil done by india in the region.
@farhan: Yes, it is insane to nuke Pakistan ! This is just an indication of the "increasing frustration" of the civilized world towards Pakistan and the strategic assets that it nurtures ...
CIA has proven it is not an ally. ISI needs to be far more vigilant now.
Just loook at indian readers response always negative towards Pakistan. Lets hope that their new Boyfriend keeps it up, since their past BF shares the same graves where the new one at right now. USA cannot hold any war more than 10 years... true for any super power. 2012 would be interesting, but not sure if Pakistan can sustain more blows?
Vienna,31-07-2011 Pakistan should know Afghan people are as good fighters as are Pakistanis. There is no point lecturing the United States without proving you are indeed in full control and law and order in Pakistan is reality.When Pakistan`s Karachi the most organized commercial capital is without rule of law Pakistan can not lecture Afghanistan rulers or Americans. First put own house in order. Then it may be you can feel safe to interfere elsewhere beyond your borders. That is the pre-condition for the ruling troika led from the behind by a divided force of Umma Qalifhate. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring, TTTMM, India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
Good action toward right direction.
It is in-concievable that OBL presence in Pakistan for six years was not known to some higher-ups in military and civil circles. Pakistan has been playing a dual policy since 2001 onwards, a fact well known to US which prompted them to conduct Abbotabad operation without taking their closest ally into confidence.
@First drink, don't think: The name you use speaks volumes for your ability to comprehend and judge reality.
@Vasan, No, but Tony Blair and George Bush and type are loveables
Joke of the century - USA needs to nuke Pakistan. WoW! USA can't even stand a war with Pakistan. I am not estimating the capabilities of Pakistan but the in-capabilities of Americans and their forces, if they can't fight a semi formal army of Iraq and fully informal army of Afghanistan, how can they fight a war with nuclear armed state. Bad Idea!!
RUSM, eat your words back dude!
us invst alot of $ so after bin it will still try there best to not leave afg when you invt you have 2 prot it also
@rusm: Not nice to wish distruction of masses. Even if that were to happen, what would the likes of you want next? Maybe best to put on a forward looking thinking hat and start acting civil.
“Pakistani forces have regained control of Damadolla, in Bajaur Agency, which was the al Qaeda headquarters,” the source said. we have come a long way from a couple of years ago when "sources" used to reject the notion of any Al Qaeeda in FATA.
Are the taliban "loveable intelligentia"???
The US needs to nuke this cesspool called Pakistan "The land of the pure"
The problem is the hateful idiots in the Northern Alliance, they are agents of India, and backstabbers of fellow Muslims in Pakistan, these Afghans should be removed from Pakistan by force, the Afghan refugee population is a big threat to Pakistan, we need to remove these people from our soil immediately.
You used the word "source" 19 times!