Geo Pakistan

Pakistan probing Osama's life, death: Kerry

Updated at: 0440 PST,  Wednesday, May 18, 2011  WASHINGTON: Pakistan has launched four separate probes into Osama bin Laden's life and death on Pakistani soil, US Senator John Kerry said on Tuesday, adding that Pakistan's intelligence chief has promised to tell him if it turns out someone in his agency knew bin Laden was there. Kerry, just back from a trip to Pakistan, said there were four Pakistani investigations into the circumstances of the death of bin Laden Kerry did not know when the probes might produce results, and noted that the United States was also sifting through evidence that could indicate whether Pakistan knew of bin Laden's whereabouts before his death. "I do know this, that the head of Pakistani intelligence told me that if someone at their lower level knew it, they will find out," Kerry told reporters outside the Senate. KERRY'S TALKS WENT ON FOR HOURS Pakistan's probes are being conducted by its army and intelligence agency and a civilian commission is being put together by parliament, a Senate aide told, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said the fourth probe by the Pakistani air force is looking into how US helicopters managed to fly to bin Laden's compound only 30 miles (50 km) from the Pakistani capital. During his time in Pakistan, Kerry spent over four hours meeting army chief Kayani and Pakistani intelligence chief Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, the Senate aide said. Kerry told his committee Tuesday he hoped the United States and Pakistan could strengthen their relationship, adding that "they (Pakistan) rely on assistance in order to be able to wage this fight against extremism." "I think there is great ability here to actually shift the dynamics of the entire relationship between Afghanistan-Pakistan, Pakistan-the United States, and all three and India, and ultimately change the longer-term strategic interests of the region," he said. "But that will depend on quiet and effective diplomacy over the course of these next weeks," Kerry said. (Reuters)