‘US knew of Pak-Qaeda link before 9/11’

The 9/11 commission’s preliminary report that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia provided critical support to Al Qaeda before the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington DC, is not an earth-shaking finding, said US Representative Tom Tancredo. Tancredo, a member of the US House of Representatives’ International Relations Committee, said: ‘‘Who did not know this? I’m surprised it has gotten this kind of attention because of course, the whole world knew, that Al Qaeda had operated freely in Pakistan for a long time and continued to do so, even after 9/11.’’

He said: ‘‘But it seems to me to be to their benefit, just as the Saudis have learned, that it is to their benefit to try their best to eradicate radical groups from their country. The Pakistanis have yet to do anything significant for instance, about the madarsas. They still operate and are the breeding grounds for terrorists.’’

Absolving the US of any responsibility, Tancredo added: ‘‘I think frankly there’s little America can do. Pakistan has really go to do it themselves. And they can, it’s just that, do they have the will to do so?’’ The final report of the 9/11 commission is expected by the end of July. —(ANI)