ISLAMABAD – The shocking disclosures unfurled in the book ‘The SpyChronicles’ written by former ISI chief Asad Durrani and ex-Raw head A.SDulat has opened up a new debate in Pakistan about who is the real traitorin the country.
As Gen Durrani had claimed in the book that Pakistan’s intelligenceagency was kept in the loop regarding the operation ‘Neptune Spear’, thatled to the killing of al-Qaeda chief, Osama bin Laden, a fresh debate hasbeen sparked regarding who played the pivotal role from Pakistan’s side inassisting Washington, track the most-wanted ‘terrorist’ on earth.
The Abbottabad Commission report also sheds light on the top securityofficials, who could have helped Washington in tracking down OBL in May2011 and a statement recorded by Major Amir Aziz on October 25, 2011visibly alleges Lt Col (retd) Saeed Iqbal to have confirmed the presence ofOsama bin Laden to American spy agency, CIA.
Though Aziz was initially reluctant to record the statement, however, wheninformed of the consequence, he came and offered his apology and apparentlyblew the lid off Iqbal’s dubious role in the high-profile operation.
In his statement recorded on January 9, 2012, Major Aziz highlighted hisrelationship with Lt Col (retd) Saeed Iqbal and revealed that the saidofficial visited him on 2-3 occasions and showed interest in purchasing theland belonging to Aziz, which however could not be finalized.
“Saeed Iqbal had a very costly vehicle (Coach 2002) which wasnoise-controlled and he was planning to build a house for his wife in BilalTown,” stated Aziz before the commission.
Maj (retd) Aziz also informed the Commission that once Lt Col Saeed Iqbalwent on the rooftop of his house and took photographs of his pets butexpressed suspicions that he might have taken photographs of OBL compoundinstead of the pets.
Major Aziz also stated that the car in the use of Col Saeed Iqbal was notonly noise-controlled but bullet-proof as well that must be worth 3-4 crorerupees, expressing that a retired Colonel cannot afford to buy such aluxury vehicle.
In his testimony, Aziz cast aspirations over the latest Digital Camerapossessed by Col Saeed Iqbal, saying it cannot be for the purpose of takingphotographs of pets only, bolstering the perception that the officer wasactively involved with CIA in locating the al-Qaeda head.
Major Aziz also informed the Commission that a son of Lt Col Saeed Iqbalwas ADC to former president Pervez Musharraf and currently worked as aprivate secretary to him.
Major Aziz’s remarks made before the commission are potentially significantas they could reveal about CIA network in Pakistan and the facilitators ofthe network in Pakistan.
Lt Col Saeed Iqbal, according to Major Aziz, employed former ISI employeesin his security business, raising suspicions about his active role infacilitating the Abbottabad incident.
Though ISI informed the Commission that neither Major Aziz nor Lt Col SaeedIqbal played any such role, however, Saeed Iqbal left Pakistan immediatelyafter May 2, 2011 and attempted to sell his properties, sparkign concernsabout his alleged role in the operation carried out by US Navy Seals.
Though the Abbottabad Commission had winded up its probe years ago, thedebate has been re-ignited owing to the claim made by seasoned journalistAsad Kharal in one of the tweets.
Kharal had explained that the army officer in question had received $50mfor leading marines to Islamabad and is now living in San Diego, USA.
Though the journalist had deleted his tweet, even then the statement ofMajor Amir Aziz gives credence to the role played by Col Saeed Iqbal.