US President Barack Obama ordered that the team sent to raid Osama bin Laden’s compound be large enough to fight off Pakistani forces should they intervene, the New York Times reported.
Citing unnamed officials, the paper said Obama raised the prospect of a clash 10 days before the May 1 raid, resulting in an extra two fighter helicopters being sent to protect the commandos raiding the compound.
“Some people may have assumed we could talk our way out of a jam, but given our difficult relationship with Pakistan right now, the president did not want to leave anything to chance,” it quoted a senior official as saying.
“He wanted extra forces if they were necessary.”
The Times also reported that two teams of specialists were on standby for the mission: one to bury the Al-Qaeda leader if he were killed, and another made up of lawyers, interrogators and translators in case he was captured.
It said the latter team was likely aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson in the North Arabian Sea.
Bin Laden was buried at sea after he was shot dead in the raid, officials have said.
The latest revelations come at a time of heightened tensions between the two military allies, with Pakistan slamming the US operation and denying what it called “absurd” allegations that it was sheltering the world’s most wanted man.
Islamabad has also vowed to retaliate against any similar operations. Washington in turn has emphatically refused to say sorry for covertly operating in Pakistan.
So we missed the "war" just because out military was sleeping or was lazy enough to react to some foreign operation in 40 minutes. Otherwise US forces would have killed our soldiers, would not have felt a strain of guilt and would be bragging about how the "world's no.1 terrorist and mastermind" was killed.
I thought we were "friends"!
Although it is not to proved that Pakistan was not aware of this attack. As an Indian I thought there should had been some thing more, may be Pakistani Army should had shot down one of the chopper..and it would lead an conflict between PAK and US..and that would enough for Indians…
U.S is the biggest terrorist on the planet earth and the India is USA's pet wolf, always ready to attack on lamb (Pakistan).
Are you serious Tahir? Bin Laden has launched numerous terrorist attacks on the U.S. We will retaliate! That includes future attacks. If Pakistan will not get rid of these terrorist groups then we will!
Comments are closed.