We did not invite Osama or the Al Qaeda into Pakistan: Yousuf Raza Gilani

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today addressed his country's Parliament on the Osama operation in Abbottabad.

In the first official reaction to the US operation that tracked and killed Osama bin Laden in the Pakistan town last week, the Pakistan PM said he regretted that "unilateral action was taken without our concurrence." He said Pakistan was a proud nation and would defend its sovereignty and warned that "any attack, overt or covert, will get a matching response." (Read: Full text of Gilani's address)

Gilani also asked, "Who Is responsible for the Al Qaeda? Pakistan is not the birthplace of Al Qaeda. We didn't invite Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden to Pakistan." He suggested that the blame-game on the Al Qaeda served no purpose, also hastening to add that Pakistan's "relationship with US is based on mutual respect and mutual trust."

In a clear message to the US, Gilani said "Cooperation in counter-terrorism warrants a partnership approach which fully accommodates Pakistan's interests and respect for the clearly stipulated red lines".

Defending his country's military and the ISI, which have been under a cloud ever since Osama bin Laden was killed in the garrison town, Gilani said allegations of "complicity or incompetence are absurd." He said the Pakistan military and ISI had been in the forefront of the fight against the Al Qaeda. It was " disingenuous to blame Pakistan or state institutions including the ISI for being in cahoots with the Al Qaeda," he said, adding that, "It was the ISI that passed key leads to CIA, that enabled US intelligence to use superior tech assets"

He admitted there had been intelligence failure, "not just of us, but of all intelligence agencies."

Gilani stressed that Pakistan's relations with all states, "including neighbors and major powers are in good shape".

Gilani announced a joint session of the Pakistan Parliament on Friday, May 13, where all officials of the armed forces would answer questions in-camera.

He said an inquiry into Osama operation would be led by the Adjutant General of the Pakistan Army.

Here are some of the key points from Gilani's speech.