CIA operatives may have been on ground in Pak for bin Laden raid

In a new revelation,it has now emerged that some CIA operatives might have been on the ground around Osama bin Ladens house during the 38-minute raid in which the worlds most dreaded terrorist was killed in Abbottabad.

In a new revelation,it has now emerged that some CIA operatives might have been on the ground around Osama bin Ladens house during the 38-minute raid in which the worlds most dreaded terrorist was killed in Abbottabad.

According to the Pakistan Army Board of Enquiry,which deposed before the Abbottabad Commission,the US stealth helicopters were probably guided by ground operators already in place around bin Ladens compound.

In this regard,there were reports of suspicious activities indicating CIA ground support for the planning and implementation of the raid, said the Commission report,leaked by Al Jazeera channel.

These included the cutting down of trees to clear the approach of the helicopters,the hiring of a house in the vicinity of the OBL compound by supposed USAID employees,and the movement of four to five Prado/Land Cruisers from the US Embassy in Islamabad towards Peshawar/Abbottabad, the report said.

The US embassy personnel coming from Islamabad and seen headed towards Abbottabad may have been CIA agents to assist the helicopters, the Commission report added.

In a separate section,dealing with the question about the possibility of CIA network on the ground supporting the raid,the report said,There were in all probability a fairly extensive network. One network would have been for the location of OBLs hideout,and another would be to confirm whether or not he was actually hiding there.

Eyewitness detained for greeting U.S. Seals

It was his greeting that got him into trouble.

Abdul Munaf,an eyewitness to the landing of two US stealth helicopters for the raid,walked towards the heavily armed SEALs,mistaking them for Pakistanis,to greet. Instead of greeting him back,the American commandos pounced on him and tied him up.

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According to the Abbottabad Commission report,Munaf was woken up by the noise of the helicopters,which had apparently landed on an area near his crops,tried to greet the Americans thinking that they were Pakistanis.

He was surrounded by them and tied up8230;It was not clear whether he was released as the helicopters flew towards Abbottabad or back towards Jalalabad. Most likely,he was kept tied up and under guard for the duration of the operation,the commission said.