The Hollywood movie “Behind the Enemy Line”, besides other things, shows the accuracy of hi-tech sophistication of the US satellite surveillance system, which is capable of monitoring the movement of a heat-emitting body from even 50 feet down the earth surface. The satellite-run Google Earth computer software speaks it all. Despite all this, it looks ridiculous as to why the Americans failed to trace out OBL for 10 long years.
Since the concrete cave hideout of top al-Qaeda leaders in the Tora Bora Mountains of Khost was bombed in 2001, the most wanted OBL went missing, along with many others. There is a strong case to be made for the fact that US could not have found OBL unless the Pakistan intelligence agencies reported a mysterious call. A fact which President Obama and Secretary Clinton admitted, giving due credit to Pakistan.
Over 100 al-Qaeda terrorists have been handed over to US, a number of top al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders are reported to have been pointed. It was ISI that intercepted call from Waziristan in Arabic and reported to CIA instantly. Then another call from that house in Arabic was intercepted, again by ISI, and reported to CIA. The fact remains that the Americans have failed to apply their independent satellite systems, unless a helping hand is extended by the ISI. If even then the Americans blame Pakistan for not cooperating, then it means they have mala fide intentions – to put pressure on Pakistan.
If Americans think the May 2 hunt is their hi-tech triumph, then they are wrong. Behind it lies the cooperation by Pakistan, its security forces and intelligence agencies. America could and cannot move ahead even an inch without Pakistan’s help.
SHER KHAN JADOON
Abbottabad