Intelligence authorities have rounded up more than 30 people and questioned several others as part of the Abbottabad probe, Pakistani Ambassador in Washington Hussain Haqqani said on Monday.
Haqqani revealed that Pakistani intelligence detained or questioned
several people to identify members of eliminated al Qaeda chief Osama
bin Laden’s support network.
“Even if some people were arrested for collaborating with a foreign intelligence service, that would not be different from the United States arresting Jonathan Pollard for spying on behalf of America’s friend Israel. Allies share intelligence. They should not be found conducting espionage on one another,” he said in an interview with US TV channel CNN.
“Even if some people were arrested for collaborating with a foreign intelligence service, that would not be different from the United States arresting Jonathan Pollard for spying on behalf of America’s friend Israel. Allies share intelligence. They should not be found conducting espionage on one another,” he said in an interview with US TV channel CNN.
He said that arrested persons include five spies of CIA, adding that no one has been convicted yet in the Osama episode.
He said that the relations between Pakistan and US are tense but both countries are exchanging the secret information.
The envoy argued that the bin Laden episode is a moment of introspection for both Pakistan and the United States.
In an appearance on ABC channel’s This Week program, the ambassador
pointed out that it is unfair to say that bin Laden was allowed to be
in Pakistan and made it clear that the al Qaeda chief “just happened to
be there.”
“It is now time for all of us to take a deep breath and objectively
evaluate the realities of the relationship between America and Pakistan
in a way that furthers our shared goals and objectives.”
The ambassador said that al Qaeda is a common enemy for both the US
and Pakistan. The arrest of Ayman Al-Zawahiri, he added, is a top
priority, and Pakistan will assist the United States in capturing the
militant leader.
“The fear that the United States will desert Pakistan once again, as
it did at the end of the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan in
1989, is widespread.”
“America asks whether Pakistan is an ally and can be trusted. And of
course, the same questions are being asked about the United States in
Pakistan.”
Pakistan has paid an enormous price in its fight against extremism
and terrorism: 35,000 civilians killed, more Pakistani soldiers lost
than all of Nato combined, 2000 police dead, the assassination of our
leader Benazir Bhutto and massive losses to our economy in investment,
trade and infrastructure, he said.
“
We appreciate America’s help, but the notion that America has ‘given’ Pakistan $20 billion since 9/11 needs to be seen in context. About $12 billion of this figure is Coalition Support Funds, reimbursements for expenses incurred by Pakistan in counterterrorism operations. They covered the cost of the fuel, ordnance, training and execution of counterterrorist operations.
“
We appreciate America’s help, but the notion that America has ‘given’ Pakistan $20 billion since 9/11 needs to be seen in context. About $12 billion of this figure is Coalition Support Funds, reimbursements for expenses incurred by Pakistan in counterterrorism operations. They covered the cost of the fuel, ordnance, training and execution of counterterrorist operations.
“The blood, sweat, effort, grit and guts are those of a Pakistan
that bears the brunt of the battle against terrorism, a battle clearly
in the national security interests of the United States. SANA
