Taliban co-founder tipped off US on Osama hideout: Report
May 30th, 2011 - 1:19 pm ICT by IANS
London, May 30 (IANS) A Taliban leader tipped-off the US about where Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan, a media report here said.
The mirror.co.uk cited secret papers found at Osama’s high-walled compound in Pakistan’s Abbottabad city as suggesting that the Al Qaeda chief’s cover was blown by his trusted ally, Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Baradar.
Washington, in return, offered to take back its troops from Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan after Osama was either killed or captured.
Osama was gunned down May 2 by US commandos.
Till now, it was believed that Osama was traced after the US intercepted a phone call made by his courier Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti.
But new reports in Pakistan suggest it was Baradar who told the US where he was hiding, mirror.co.uk said.
Baradar, an ally of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, was arrested last year when he was on a visit to Karachi. He was questioned in prison before being released last October.
“Baradar is in the frame as he has been in negotiations with the Afghan government and is closely linked to both Mullah Omar and bin Laden,” security expert Neil Doyle was quoted as saying.
“The US has announced that it is scaling back its military operations in Pakistan following the killing of bin Laden. That will fuel speculation about whether this is the start of the pay-off for insurgents who are willing to cut a deal,” he added.
“Military officials in Pakistan have also said there was a rift between bin Laden and some of his allies.”
- ISI now claims it helped US locate Osama - Apr 28, 2012
- US officials justify Osama killing; put more on terrorist watch - May 05, 2011
- CIA held fake vaccination drive to get Osama family DNA - Jul 12, 2011
- Taliban denies Mullah Omar is dead (Night Lead) - May 23, 2011
- Shots at chest, forehead killed Obama, US looks at seized material (Lead) - May 05, 2011
- After Osama, it should be Mullah Omar's turn: Italy (Lead) - May 02, 2011
- Osama met Al Qaeda, Taliban leaders at Abbottabad house - May 15, 2011
- Mullah Omar dead? Taliban denies it (Fourth Lead) - May 23, 2011
- Mullah Omar dead? Taliban says no (Second Lead) - May 23, 2011
- Taliban demands removal of leaders names from US, UN terror blacklist - Oct 30, 2010
- Post bin Laden death, keeping a straight face about Pak will be difficult for US, others - May 03, 2011
- Mullah Omar dead? No, says Taliban (Third Lead) - May 23, 2011
- Experts don't buy 'ISI didn't know of Osama's presence in Abbottabad' story - May 03, 2011
- Review Pakistan's ties with US: Nawaz Sharif - May 11, 2011
- When Pakistan denied Osama was in Pakistan - May 02, 2011
Tags: abbottabad, afghan government, ahmed, al qaeda, allies, ally, co founder, commandos, hideout, insurgents, military officials, military operations, mullah omar, osama bin laden, security expert, speculation, strongholds, taliban, taliban leader, walled compound