’There was no deal on Osama’

Says former Pak Prez Pervez Musharraf after media reports about a secret deal permitting a US operation against Osama on Pakistani soil

'There was no deal on Osama'

Says former Pak Prez Pervez Musharraf after media reports about a secret deal permitting a US operation against Osama on Pakistani soil

Deal or no deal? Pervez Musharraf denies any stealth agreement with
the US regarding Osama bin Laden. File Pic

General's words
Musharraf said, "The accusation of my having allowed intrusion into Pakistan by US forces chasing Osama Bin Laden is absolutely baseless. Never has this subject even been discussed between myself and President Bush leave aside allowing such freedom of action that would violate our sovereignty."

Musharraf said there was never any such agreement, written or verbal. Now running an opposition party from self-imposed exile in London, the former military ruler has vociferously denounced the May 2 US Navy SEALs raid that killed bin Laden. What the deal is Musharraf's denial comes after UK newspaper, the Guardian, reported that the US and Pakistan struck a secret deal almost a decade ago permitting a US operation against Osama on Pakistani soil similar to last week's raid that killed the al-Qaeda leader.

The deal was struck between then military leader General Pervez Musharraf and President George Bush after Osama escaped US forces in the mountains of Tora Bora in late 2001, according to Pakistani and US officials.u00a0"There was an agreement between Bush and Musharraf that if we knew where Osama was, we were going to come and get him," said a former US official.

"The Pakistanis would put up a hue and cry, but they wouldn't stop us." A senior Pakistani official told The Guardian the deal was renewed during the transition to civilian rule in 2008. Pakistan denies advance knowledge of the May 2 raid. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani told Parliament Monday that in the event of another US violation of its sovereignty "Pakistan reserves the right to retaliate with full force."

Poster boy Osama
There has been a record sale of posters of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan after the Al Qaeda leader was gunned down by the US Navy SEALs on May 2 in Abbottabad, media reports said. More than 100,000 of his posters have been sold since his death. The volume of sale is increasing daily.u00a0u00a0

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels