Thaindian News

Washington, May 3 (IANS) Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf admits that the US did not involve Islamabad in the operation to take out 9/11 mastermind and Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden because of a lack of trust.

“I think there is a lack of trust — the trust and confidence, definitely.

“That is why, maybe, they (the US) didn’t involve them (Pakistan),” he told CNN.

He also says he was surprised by how Osama could have been staying so close to a Pakistani military base in Abbottabad, about 120 km from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, and yet nobody knew he was there.

“Yes, it is astonishing. It’s - it’s very surprising. But I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever, knowing our intelligence and army, that Pakistan Army, Pakistan intelligence are operating with all their heart and soul against Al Qaeda and Taliban.”

Musharraf, who for years as Pakistani president, insisted that Osama was not in his country called the Al Qaeda leader’s death “a positive step”.

But he said Pakistani authorities should have been involved because “the sensitivity of the people of Pakistan in the streets, in the political forces are against violation of sovereignty of Pakistan”.

“Yes, I think so. Absolutely,” he said suggesting there would not have been any leaks.

“Well… I don’t think there would have been any leaks… We have, in my time, over the years, we have arrested, apprehended dozens of Al Qaeda operatives and every time it was intelligence provided jointly by, many times by American intelligence.

“And it was Pakistani forces with law enforcement agency which operated. And we did a good job of it.”

“And here again, I think, you know, well, the sensitivity of the people of Pakistan in the streets, in the political forces are against violation of sovereignty of Pakistan.”

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)