Abbottabad operation: I had no prior knowledge, Haqqani tells commission

Pakistan's former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani appeared in person before the interactive session of Abbottabad Commission on Tuesday. Responding to queries, Haqqani told the commission that he did not have prior knowledge about a unilateral operation against Osama bin Laden leader of al Qaeda by the US Navy SEALs.
He was at the Heathrow airport where he heard about the US operation in Abbottababd, according to him. Haqqani further claimed that he received instructions from the government to rush back to Washington DC and lodge a protest against the US violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. Haqqani said that he followed the directives of the government sincerely and seriously.
In his written reply to the commission submitted on Monday, the former envoy to Washington said that his instructions were to ensure that the US government, Congress and media did not blame Pakistan's government, armed forces or intelligence services for Osama bin Laden's presence as well as protest against the violation of Pakistan's sovereignty by US forces in conducting the operation.
Haqqani said the US operation was a sheer violation of international laws and obligations which he conveyed to the US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan soon after the Abbottabad operation. Talking about the attitude of the US following the raid on May 2, Haqqani told the commission that he informed the government that the US officials' behaviour was not apologetic; it was rather threatening. "Not only were they unwilling to apologise for violating Pakistani sovereignty but demanded that Pakistan must cooperate in giving access to data and persons found from the house in Abbottabad where the raid was conducted".
He maintained that the Americans also demanded the return of the wreckage of the Stealth helicopter left behind during the operation. The former ambassador added that the US demanded access to the family of Osama bin Laden and also demanded that the debris of the crashed helicopter should be returned.
Speaking on the visa issue, Haqqani said he never issued any visas without permission. He argued that the official record would show that the embassy was very conservative in issuing visas and at one point it held back issuance of any official visas because clearance from Islamabad was not forthcoming. This created a backlog and also resulted in political pressure by the US government that was resolved by the prime minister, authorising the ambassador some discretion in issuing visas vide his letter dated July 14, 2010.
Haqqani had submitted his written statement before the Commission on Monday and appeared before the commission Tuesday. The meeting of the Commission, which was held under the Chairmanship of former Justice Javed Iqbal, was also attended by Military Officers including General Asad Durrani, General Ehsan-ul-Haq, Lieutenant General Javed Ashraf Qazi and Lieutenant General Nasim Rana.