WASHINGTON: As the U.S. re-evaluates its relationship with Pakistan, House
Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R.-Mich.) says the word "ally" may
be too strong a word to describe the country where Osama bin Laden and, he now
believes, al-Qaeda’s number-two, Ayman al-Zawahir, have been hiding.
In an interview to US TV Channel to be on aired today (Sunday), Congressman
Rogers says the U.S. has known for years that the Taliban’s leaders are living
inside Pakistan. "It was one of those, I think, arranged trade offs for other
bits of cooperation," says Rogers.
"[The U.S.] knew [Pakistani military] weren’t being aggressive there," he
says, but did arrest hundreds of terrorists in other places in Pakistan.
Asked whether he thought Pakistan was a good ally of the U.S., the chairman
of the committee that oversees U.S. intelligence agencies says, "I would say
Pakistan is an ally. There are challenges, there’s serious challenges there and
’ally’ may be too strong a word," Rogers tells Logan.
Rogers says he knows the Pakistanis have disclosed U.S. operations and held
back information, but believes the killing of bin Laden may lead to more
cooperation.
"I hope they see this as an opportunity to be more cooperative. To be more
open, to help us with other targets that we have in Pakistan that we’re very
interested in having apprehended and brought to justice," he tells Logan, who
suggests that al Qaeda’s number-two would be on that list. "Zawahiri is a great
example," replies Rogers. "I believe he’s in Pakistan." Online
