PAKISTAN’S PRIME MINISTER has denied that his country was complicit in hiding Osama bin Laden from the United States – and has described the al-Qaeda leader’s death as “justice done”.

Yousuf Raza Gilani told his parliament in Islamabad that his country’s relationship with the US was “still strong” – but warned Washington that future unilateral strikes within his country’s borders could be met with “full force.”

Gilani also expressed confidence in Pakistan’s military and Inter-Services Intelligence agency, which have been heavily criticised for failing to confront the US Navy SEALs who conducted last week’s helicopter raid without informing Pakistan first.

The operation to kill bin Laden took place a week ago in Abbottabad, an army town only two and a half hours’ drive outside the capital.

The location of bin Laden’s hideout has sparked suspicion that Pakistani officials knew where the al-Qaeda leader was hiding – and may have been helping him.

Gilani adamantly rejected those allegations, saying, “It is disingenuous for anyone to blame Pakistan or state institutions of Pakistan, including the ISI and the armed forces, for being in cahoots with al-Qaeda.”

Gilani added:

Allegations of complicity or incompetence are absurd. Pakistan is not the birthplace of al-Qaida… we did not invite Osama bin Laden to Pakistan or even to Afghanistan.

The prime minister did concede that the failure to find bin Laden, who was reportedly living in Abbottabad for up to six years before being finally identified, was a mistake. But, he insisted, the fault was not Pakistan’s alone.

“Yes, there has been an intelligence failure,” said Gilani. “It is not only ours but of all the intelligence agencies of the world.”

He said that the army will conduct an inquiry into the raid, and military officials will brief parliament later this month.

The Pakistani military scrambled F-16 fighters and sent forces to bin Laden’s compound as soon as they were aware of the raid, said Gilani, expressing confidence in their performance even though they were unable to sanction US forces before they returned to Afghanistan.

“Our response demonstrates that our armed forces reacted, as was expected of them,” he said, warning the US launching future such attacks, saying “unilateralism runs the inherent risk of serious consequences.

“Pakistan reserves the right to retaliate with full force,” said Gilani. “No one should underestimate the resolve and capability of our nation and armed forces to defend our sacred homeland.”

But he insisted that relations with the US remain strong and praised the result of the raid.

“Osama bin Laden was the most wanted terrorist and enemy number one of the civilised world,” said Gilani. “Elimination of Osama bin Laden, who launched waves after waves of terrorists attacks against innocent Pakistanis, is indeed justice done.”

AP