US should have kept Pak in loop: Musharraf, action violation

London, May 2 (PTI) Former Pakistan President Pervez
Musharraf on Monday said the American operation against Osama
bin Laden in Pakistani soil was a "violation of our
sovereignty" and felt the Gilani government should have been
kept in the loop.
Musharraf, who has repeatedly denied US intelligence
that the world's most wanted terrorist was inside Pakistan,
said he was surprised how he was found in a mansion in
Abbottabad, 120 km from the capital Islamabad.
The former Pakistan Army Chief, who was the President
during the 2001 terror strike in US masterminded by bin Laden,
however said the killing of al Qaeda boss was a "victory" for
the people of Pakistan and all peace-loving people of the
world.
"American troops coming across the border and taking
action in one of our towns that is Abbotabad is not acceptable
to the people of Pakistan and is a violation of our
sovereignty, our sensitivity." he told TV channels.
"Foreign troops crossing the border into Pakistan will
not be liked by the people of Pakistan. US forces should not
have crossed over into Pakistan," he said, adding "handling
and execution of the operation (by US forces) is not correct.
The Pakistani government should have been kept in the loop."
In Musharraf's view, it is this lack of trust that is
"very bad" because the two countries are fighting the same
enemy.
"We are fighting al-Qaeda, we have to fight the Taliban
and we have to be together strategically. I know that Pakistan
is totally onboard in fighting al-Qaeda and Taliban," he said.
Expressing surprise at how bin Laden was present in the
military garisson town of Abbotabad, he however said he did
not have the details.
"I don't know whether he was staying there, I don't know
whether he was coming and going there or only his family was
living there...I don't know these details," he said.
He however said that a house being so close there
whether he must have been visiting is a "failure" of
intelligence.
Musharraf did not think that there is any "local
official collusion".
"I don't think there is any local official collusion
(with bin-Laden). That possibility is not there but, however,
some local people colluding is a possibility. Battle has been
won but the war continues."