Operation Abbottabad back in the lime light

WASHINGTON – Operation Abbottabad, code named as operation Neptune Spear which resulted in the death of the last senior Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin laden that happened on May 2, 2011 is in the buzz again.

This buzz is due to the report professed by an American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, He has alleged that the senior officials of the Pakistan Army and the country’s top spy agency ISI were aware about the operation. This allegation is the epicenter of all this furor.

This is not the first time Samuel has done this, he is known to be alleging the Pakistan Army and ISI whether it is Pakistan’s nuclear program, the Abdul Qadeer Khan Controversy or Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden.

In 2009, he wrote an article for the New Yorker Magazine and there was quite a hubbub created in the international world. India used it to spread negative propaganda regarding Pakistan’s nuclear program. But the time and course has proven his claims out rightly wrong.

This article was centered upon the premise that Pakistan’s nuclear assets are unsecure and can be seized by Al Qaeda, Taliban and insurgents so US should take special precautionary measures in this regard.

The article published yesterday is of same accord. Though it has aimed to expose the President Barack Obama and the US administration’s mendacity but has not spared Pakistan as well. He has given the impression that the operation was conducted with the prior approval of General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani and General Shuja Pasha, the former chiefs of Pak Army and the secret agency ISI, which are custodians of the atomic program. But they did not have the guts to accept it in front of public.

But two premises of Seymour are worth considering. If Kiani and Pasha were really unaware of this operation lasting for 1 hour, then it is not a good omen for ISI. When he got acquainted with the news still he just made phone calls to different people. Why the Pak Air Force which is designated for the defense of Pakistan and Atomic Program, did not made an immediate action. Why agencies for the security of sensitive zones and installations did not make an immediate reaction. What was the purpose of breaking the supply of power during the operation? These questions are not answered in front of the public due to which journalists like Seymour find the chance to tell such tales.

Seymour Hersh mentioned Doctor Amir Aziz in his report. Pakistanis know only the doctor Amir Aziz who met Osama Bin Laden before 9/11, his physician and was arrested in General Pervez Musharraf’s tenure. He was investigated about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, when it was planned to hand him over to Americans. But Amir Aziz was spared by giving threat that he would tell Americans everything they want to hear such as he would tell that he was sent to Afghanistan by Pervez Musharraf and General Khalid Muqbool and that Bin Laden was in contact with the Army Generals. Contact between Amir Aziz and General Kiani is a bit weird to believe on, as at that time neither General Kiani was the ISI chief nor was any news about Bin Laden. If there is any other Major Amir, Seymour should have explained that.

Terrorism has not been eliminated by Operation Zarb-e-Azb but it has closed the door to Western and Indian propaganda such that the Army and ISI have links with Haqqani Network, or of deceiving US and Europe or the terrorist groups being declared to be the asset of state institutions. It was basically an effective tool to prevent Pakistan from asking for economic aid. But now these propagandizers would quite be disappointed.

The thing which is really pinching them including Hussain Haqqani and Seymour Hersh, is China’s investment in Pakistan as it would be a nightmare for them to have a strong nuclear Islamic state in the region. And this investment would embark Pakistan on the road to self-sufficiency, if it does not become the victim of the corruption masters and their subordinates, or the state does not meet any political instability. Now they are angry at US administration also that why it is still trusting Pakistan, why is it hesitant to make troubles for Pakistan in collaboration with India.

Seymour’s article would be refuted by Pakistan and US’ institutions in their own way. It is very likely that Pakistan’s Foreign Office, ISPR and other institutions may issue official statement but General Kiani and General Pasha should make their position clear now. Their silence on the claims made in Leon Penta’s book rose bitter questions.

Recently there were rumors circulating in regard with stopping an important personality’s visit to Australia, no one paid any importance to the negation of Interior ministry and ISPR did not bother to affirm or negate the news. This made many people happy. So now it would not be prudent to ignore these news as tales. Why should the opponents of nuclear program find an opportunity to propagandize?

But Seymour’s article is eye opening for those who do feverish efforts to prove America a sincere friend of Pakistan. Seymour has proven Obama and his cronies as liars, deceitful and untrustworthy. Which confirms to the Pakistan’s stance and now the army’s anger over Abbottabad is quite understandable. When Pakistan blocked the NATO supply line it was a message to a deceitful partner. Had the operation been a joint venture, there was no point in blocking the supply line.

Seymour’s story has many loop holes from Pakistan’s perspective. Like always the story contains nothing but the claims of a nameless source and demonstration of bias against Pakistan. But still the answer should be elaborative in every respect. The story has bolstered the skeptics about the death of Bin Laden. He has made the things complicated instead of clarifying them.