Washington: Osama bin Laden`s presence in Abbottabad was definitely known to "somebody" in Pakistan, Islamabad`s former top diplomat in the US, Husain Haqqani, has said, arguing that his country owes an explanation to the world about the slain al Qaeda leader`s local benefactor.
Haqqani, who was forced to resign as Ambassador to the US last year over the Memogate scandal, wondered why there has not been any fact finding on the entire episode yet and contended that Pakistan has to nail down responsibility if it has to prove its hands were clean.
"Even Friday knew where Robinson Crusoe was," Haqqani said in his remarks at the Center for the National Interest, formerly known as the Nixon Center.
"Somebody knew. I mean, nobody lives anywhere without anybody knowing... Somebody in Pakistan knew. Who that somebody is, it`s Pakistan`s responsibility to identify," the former Pakistan Ambassador to the US said.
Haqqani said he was not suggesting that the Pakistani establishment knew about the Abbottabad hideout of the once elusive al Qaeda leader, but insisted there was support for him from some quarter that needed to be identified.
"There`s no report on bin Laden yet. No one is saying it was the government... But somebody helped him. Somebody bought the place for him, somebody paid for the electricity bills, somebody helped bring food there, and at least that should be identified and it hasn`t been," he said.
"It`s Pakistan`s responsibility to the world to say who did it. It doesn`t have to be the government, it doesn`t have to be the military, but whoever it is, we have to come clean on that, because that is the only way we will assure the rest of the world that Pakistan`s government and Pakistan`s state has its hands clean on this whole thing," Haqqani said.
The former Pakistani diplomat said it was just as unrealistic for Pakistanis to think that the US would side with Pakistan by launching a war on India as it was for the US to think Pakistan would give up its nuclear weapons or sever ties with extremists.
"Equally unrealistic is that Pakistan... Will give up support for jihadi groups that it deems to be a sub conventional force multiplier for regional influence," he said.
Haqqani said the US and Pakistan would enjoy a healthier relationship if they abandoned mutual "delusions" and thought of each other as something less than allies.
Noting that the two countries have always had different goals for their alliance, he said this has led to continual tension.
The United States has aimed to engage Pakistan in order to eventually change it into a more stable and friendly state, he said.
On the other hand, he argued, Pakistan has aimed to instill its views of the region in America.
A looser relationship would allow them to act in areas where their interests diverge without creating feelings of betrayal, he observed.
PTI
50 people missing from Kenyan clashes
Ashraf, Karzai agree to work for regional peace, stability
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday reaffirmed their resolve to work for peace and stability in the region.
They expressed their resolve when Karzai telephoned Ashraf to extend Eid greetings.
"During the telephonic conversation both the leaders reiterated their resolve to work for peace and stability in the region," said a statement issued by Ashraf`s office.
Ashraf said the Pakistan government is "firmly committed to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan".
He said interactions between the two countries "should continue to further improve the existing brotherly relations".
The premier further said he was looking forward to meet Karzai in the near future.
PTI
