Pakistan was unaware of bin Laden's location, US assessment concludes

Though bin Laden is dead, non-state actors still present a threat, says US admiral.


November 16, 2012

WASHINGTON: The commander of US Special Operations Command has said that a post-raid assessment concluded there is no evidence that the Pakistani government knew the whereabouts of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, who was eliminated in an operation in May 2011. 

Navy Adm William H McRaven told attendees at a Summit that Pakistan wasn't informed of the raid that led to the death of bin Laden.

McRaven said he doesn't believe the Pakistani government knew bin Laden's whereabouts, the Pentagon reported Thursday.

"We have no intelligence that indicates the Pakistanis knew he was there," he added.

The US Special Forces carried out the secret night raid on Osama bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad on May 1, last year.

McRaven said there was never a moment he doubted the raid would succeed. Though bin Laden is dead, non-state actors still present a threat, the admiral noted.

"We've done a terrific job of taking care of the core of al  Qaeda," McRaven said. But, he added, "There’s no such thing as a local problem anymore. Everything in the world is connected."

This interconnectedness means the future of special operations lies in partnerships with other nations, he added.

"We understand to minimize the rise of violent extremism, you have to create the conditions on the ground where people have good jobs, where there is the rule of law, where there is stability [and] where there is good governance," he said.

"We think, from a military standpoint, we can certainly help with the security that will be required to help begin to build some of that stability".

"The raids get all the media attention", he continued, "but the reality of the matter is the bulk of what we do is building partner capacity and working with host nations. I think that's the future of special operations," he said, according to a Pentagon account of his remarks.

COMMENTS (37)

Mirani | 11 years ago | Reply

How can it be possible ?? I think American General is telling lie on this issue because everybody know that America wants safe escape from Afghanistan using Pakistani Military establishment help.

Azeem | 11 years ago | Reply @Karma: AMERICA knew of nuclear program it 80s thats why we got sanctions in late 80s
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