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Pakistan Denies Bin Laden Gets a Pass

September 06, 2006 6:20 AM

Ht2_pakistan02_060524_nr_1The government of Pakistan today denied it would allow Osama bin Laden to avoid capture under terms of a peace agreement it signed with Taliban leaders in the country's North Waziristan area.

"If he is in Pakistan, today or any time later, he will be taken into custody and brought to justice," the Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Mahmud Ali Durrani, said in a statement.

The ambassador said a Pakistani military spokesman, Major General Shaukat Sultan, had been "grossly misquoted" when he told ABC News Tuesday that bin Laden would not be taken into custody "as long as one is being like a peaceful citizen." The comments were recorded in a telephone interview with ABC News.

Q. ABC News: If bin Laden or Zawahiri were there, they could stay?

A. Gen. Sultan: No one of that kind can stay. If someone is there he will have to surrender, he will have to live like a good citizen, his whereabouts, exit travel would be known to the authorities.<p>

Q. ABC News: So, he wouldn't be taken into custody? He would stay there?<p>

A. Gen. Sultan: No, as long as one is staying like a peaceful citizen, one would not be taken into custody. One has to stay like a peaceful citizen and not allowed to participate in any kind of terrorist activity.

General Sultan said today it was "hair splitting" to speculate whether troops would be sent in if bin Laden was found in North Waziristan.

"If someone is found there, we will see what is to be done," General Sultan said today. "Pakistan is committed to the war on terror, and of course we will go after any terrorist found to be operating here," he said. 

Under the terms of the peace agreement, the Pakistani Army promised to cease action in the area and to return captured Taliban weapons and soldiers.

Former White House counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke, an ABC News consultant, said "What this means is that the Taliban and al Queida leadership have effectively carved out a sanctuary inside Pakistan."

General Sultan said today he "rejected" the idea that Pakistan had created a safe haven for terrorists.

Read Brian Ross' Report "Pakistan Gives Bin Laden Free Pass."

September 6, 2006 in Osama bin Laden | Permalink | User Comments (38)

User Comments

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A perfect example of why we cannot appease any of these islamic countries. Pakistan is our supposed friend. We should make the entire middle east a parking lot before they do it to us.

Posted by: jeff | Sep 6, 2006 8:31:41 AM

Heh heh!

What else did you expect from this fork-tongued country?

Posted by: Pat | Sep 6, 2006 8:58:14 AM

This is a typical attitude of the dictatorial Pakistan regime. They decide to support the "terror plotters", then back out on their own word due to mounting pressure from the West (if there was any)!

Posted by: Dhruv | Sep 6, 2006 9:23:14 AM

I'll believe it when I see it....He is probably hanging out watching American movies and drinking Coke in Pakistan as we speak.

Posted by: Keith | Sep 6, 2006 9:24:46 AM

In the immortal words of Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked!

Posted by: Jerry | Sep 6, 2006 9:29:54 AM

Ross is criminal in his reporting. Just report the real news please.

Posted by: Joe | Sep 6, 2006 10:20:00 AM

lol...damage control!

Posted by: Freakaloin | Sep 6, 2006 10:25:48 AM

The U.S. should immediately cut off all financial assistance to Pakistan in response to this deal with the Taliban. While the possibility of one of the Pakistan's nuclear weapons falling into the hands of the Taliban seems more likely than ever, it would be wise policy to corner Musharraf by pulling away our own financial support. Essentially, this would isolate his government and make him even more accessible to Taliban threats, a reality that I feel would likely lead him back to providing greater support to the War on Terrorism. Pakistan has been playing games with the U.S. for the last several years--handing over number 3, 4 and 5 al-Qaeda members but never anyone greater. This has largely been tactical and I believe the government does know where bin Laden and al-Zawahiri reside, as Musharraf has even said that the capturing of bin Laden would ultimately jeapordize his own central government from a public revolt. Making deals with the Taliban is unacceptable to U.S. interests, especially considering the territory that these terrorists will now have a free reign over: the area that borders Afghanistan. We will likely see a regrouping of the Taliban and expanded attacks against coalition forces in the upcoming year, and this will all fall on the responsibility of Pakistan's peace accord. It is time for Middle Eastern governments to establish central authority over their people. The U.S. had to do assume this risk during the Whiskey Rebellion under Washington in 1794; it is time these weak and cowardly governments do the same. Nations must shed their own blood for the greater good of their society and the world, and making peace deals with the Taliban is a major step away from this truth.

Posted by: John | Sep 6, 2006 10:30:33 AM

Bush knows where Osama bin Laden is located

Posted by: Jodi | Sep 6, 2006 10:36:49 AM

I cover US Department of State press briefings. This entire episode that Brian Ross has investigated is at the heart of this difficulty. You have for instance the city of Karachi, a hot-bed of insurgency, terrorist activity. Remember, this is where the extremist mind placed the Madrass Schools. I have interviewed the former Pakistani US Ambassador... I brought up the various bombings in Europe... London, Madrid etc. I left him a bit more contrite. However, this notion that if Osama bin Laden does not cause trouble... the Pakistani Army will leave him alone.... Why a Peace Deal with the Taliban and letting them cause more havoc in Afghanistan. Does Pakistan really have A.Q. Kahn under house arrest?.... 3 Years ago, I was the first to ask about his terrorist network, and since about the Chinese shipping company, Hutchinson Wampoa, Ltd. When you have rogue actors causing world trouble you don't give up the hunt!
Osama bin Laden and others have received too much publicity... it is time for the Muslim community to call and create his downfall ... not give him a $200.00 free monopoly get out of jail card.

North Korea, China, Russia, Syria, Iran are tough customers.


Sincerely,

Joel Wishengrad

Posted by: Joel Wishengrad | Sep 6, 2006 10:41:12 AM

Blotter Reflux. Single source, snip, fill, drive-by (repeat as required).

Posted by: stevesh | Sep 6, 2006 10:45:32 AM

Why are you guys at ABC News relying on Richard Clarke for anything? You should have learned a long time ago that he is not to be believed.

Posted by: Art | Sep 6, 2006 10:55:22 AM

If an Pakistan has ceeded a region of its sovereignty to the Taliban, how is it that we are winning the war on terror? If the flaws in our intelligence gatering activities have been rectified, then how is it that Bin Laden is still free? If the US is the greatest nation in the history of humanity, how is one man embarrassing us? Or is he being allowed to live free? We as Americans deserve, and should demand, answers to questions such as these. Shame on all of the political officials, whether through blind obedience or silent acquiescence, who have allowed such shame to fall on the country that I, and generations of my family, have fought to defend.

Posted by: Chadd | Sep 6, 2006 11:15:19 AM

General Sultan was not against Bin Laden and his terrorists before he was for the terrorists who were peaceful citizens.
"-- of course we will go after any terrorist found to be operating here," he said, but it is "hair splitting" to speculate whether troops would be sent in."
General Sultan should come to the USA and run for Congress.

Posted by: Ray McDaniel | Sep 6, 2006 11:19:40 AM

see the phone ross is holding? that's as "investigative" as his "investigations" get. Why isn't he in Pakistan right now instead of sitting in a chair getting make-up put on for his next big breaking "news" report. Give me a break with ABC, they're all a bunch of Bushnik hacks.

Posted by: Howler | Sep 6, 2006 12:28:51 PM

This administration would screw up a 2-car funeral. If it had focused on getting Bin Laden to begin with instead of trying to bring the blessings of democracy to Iraq, this would all be a non-issue.

They've now reached the point of calling me and anyone else who disagrees with them Nazis. Seems the pot is calling the kettle black.

Posted by: Bob Burns | Sep 6, 2006 12:38:12 PM

The Paki's are our fair weather friends. However, they do face tremendous pressure at home from religious fanatics. If we really need to rely on a country that is held captive by islamic zealots to apprehend Bin Laden, then we are in serious trouble. Fact is we will never get him.

Bin Laden is probably sipping espresso at a french bistro in Paris.

Posted by: greg | Sep 6, 2006 12:57:59 PM

It is very important to understand the politics and current situation of the region before relying on who said what according to the American media. The fact is 80% of Afghanistan is still ruled by Taliban as we speak. This is even with the NATO forces being present there. The truth is that we dont want to capture or kill Osama bin Landen ourselevs who continue to roam freely in the Taliban controlled areas.
Special FBI and CIA operatives continue to work with the Pakistani army in Pakistan to provide intelligence and survalliance on the terrorist network itself since 911? so if they have not been sucessful so far locating Bin laden then how would a military operation help??

Posted by: Tom Myers | Sep 6, 2006 1:02:22 PM

Pakistan is an "ally" in the War on Terror and they need to start acting like it. They have been playing both sides of this game. They have taken our money and support and still have done little or nothing to help us capture or kill bin Laden or Al-Zarwarihi. President Bush needs to tell Musharaff that either he can get these people under control or he can expect more of what happened when one of our Predator drones fired missiles into a Pakistani village. We should continue such strikes and send our special forces into Pakistan and eliminate Al-Qadea because it has become clear the Pakistan is either too afraid or unwilling to do so. We can't wait around for other nations to help further our own national security. We have to fight and win this war ourselves.

Posted by: Matt | Sep 6, 2006 1:10:16 PM

The US is impotent. What can we realistically do? We need them because we use their air space for military operations. Pakistan knows this and knows they can lead us around by our muzzle because we are weak and afraid of world opinion.

Posted by: William | Sep 6, 2006 1:30:01 PM

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