Pakistan did not create al Qaeda: Gilani

Faced with outrage at home and suspicion of foreign nations over the Osama bin Laden episode, Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday made a strong defence of his country, saying it was not responsible for the creation of al Qaeda.

He also rubbished suspicions that their spy agency ISI was in league with the terror group or sheltered Laden.

?Who was responsible for creating Osama? Pakistan is not the birth place of al Qaeda. Truth cannot be hidden for long,? Gilani said while addressing the Parliament on Monday, taking the battle to the West (read the CIA of USA) for creating al Qaeda during the Cold War era and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

He said “we did not invite Osama or al Qaeda to Pakistan” or even to Afghanistan.

He also slammed the US for its covert operation in Pakistan violating the sovereignty of his country.

“We regret this unilateral action. Such actions run the risk of serious inherent consequences,” he said.

Gilani said no one should blame Pakistan or Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and his country was not responsible for the creation of al Qaeda. He strongly refuted that their intelligence agency ISI was in cahoots with the al Qaeda.

?ISI is a national asset, we are proud of its accomplishments. Pakistan has full confidence in its military, intelligence,? he said, adding that Pakistan’s army and ISI chief will attend in-camera Parliament session to clear all controversies.

He said allegations of complicity and incompetence are absurd and that Pakistan should not be held responsible for failed policies (of the West).

?Yes, there has been intelligence failure not only ours but also of other countries. We can’t be held responsible for flawed international policies,? Gilani said.

“Blame game serves no purpose,” he said, adding ?Pakistan has strong differences with the United States.?

He said myth and legacy of Osama should be dismantled.

?Killing of Osama bin Laden is indeed justice done but Pakistan is not in hurry to celebrate victory. Osama is dead but his myth remains to be crushed.?

?Pakistan orders investigation on bin Laden?s presence in garrison city,? he said.

?We won’t allow anyone to use our soil for terrorism. Let no one underestimate our capability to protect our sovereignty. Any attack, overt or covert, against Pakistan will get a matching response,? said the Pak PM.

On India, he said Pakistan will continue its engagement with its neighbour.

“We will pursue our engagement with India in a constructive and positive manner,” said Gilani.

On China, he said the neighbouring country is its source of inspiration.

?China is our source of inspiration for development. We value our friendship with China,? said Gilani.

Osama was killed in Pakistan on May 2, ending an almost decade long manhunt for the world’s most sought after terrorist.

Responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pengtagon, that killed about 3,000 people, bin Laden was hunted worldwide only to be found nearly ten years later in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, which is in close proximity to capital Islamabad.