In a first, Pakistan says helped track Bin Laden

An Aerial view, released by the US Department of Defense May 2, 2011, shows the compound ( highlighted) that Osama bin Laden was killed in, in Abbottabad, Pakistan ( Reuters)

• Foreign ministry aware of direct talks between US and Afghan Taliban
• Pakistan ‘doesn’t do a damn thing’ for US, says Trump

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday it had helped the United States track down Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden and other militants from the group through intelligence sharing and that it would continue working for peace in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan had extended intelligence cooperation to capture Osama Bin Laden,” said ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammad Faisal at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
But he refused to clarify whether Pakistan’s claim of “intelligence cooperation to capture Osama Bin Laden” meant Islamabad aided and assisted in CIA’s Abbottabad operation.
It is the first time Pakistan has publicly reminded the United States of its contribution in tracking him down. The Foreign Ministry remarks come days after US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of knowing Bin Laden’s whereabouts. 
“Living in Pakistan right next to the military academy, everybody in Pakistan knew he was there,” Trump said in an interview.
US Special Forces raided Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011, and killed him in a secret operation.
“He (Bin Laden) lived in Pakistan, we’re supporting Pakistan, we’re giving them $1.3 billion a year, which we don’t give them anymore, by the way, I ended it because they don’t do anything for us, they don’t do a damn thing for us,” Trump said.
Pakistan on Tuesday called in the US Chargé d’Affaires (CdA) Ambassador Paul Jones to register a strong protest on the “unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations made against Pakistan.”
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua reminded him that “it was Pakistan’s intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of OBL.”
Faisal said that Pakistan responded to Trump’s tirade “just to set the record straight.” 
Prime Minister Imran Khan also responded to Trump’s statement, saying “we will do what is best for our people and our interests.”
Faisal also reiterated Pakistan’s role in restoring peace and stability in the region. “We are aware of direct talks between the US and Afghan Taliban, and we welcome them,” he said.