The United States has asked Pakistan to show ‘concrete actions’ to prove commitment in the war against terrorism and sought an explanation from Islamabad on ignorance about slain Osama bin Laden’s hideout.
“We’re going to look for concrete actions and concrete signs from the Pakistanis that they’re also committed to this,” State Department Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. At the same time, Toner said it was also important that US-Pak counter-terrorism cooperation had borne fruit and led to some success. “So we believe it’s important that this kind of cooperation continue,” he stressed. Toner said the US had asked a number of questions to Pakistan about the hideout of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. “Certainly, we’ve raised these issues with them. The Pakistanis have said they have the same concerns, and they’re looking into it. It’s hard for me to say,” he said.
The spokesman went on to say that the US was looking for the Pakistanis to address what the administration believed were legitimate concerns raised by it and the Congress. Meanwhile, the AFP while citing a report by The New York Times said Obama administration has demanded the identities of some top Pakistani intelligence operatives as the United States tried to determine whether any of them had contact with Osama bin Laden. Quoting unnamed US officials, the newspaper said members of the US expressed deep frustration with the Pakistani military and intelligence for their refusal to identify members of the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, who were believed to have close ties to bin Laden. The officials provided details of a discussion between Pakistani officials and an American envoy who travelled to Pakistan on Monday, as well as the growing suspicion among US officials.
