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CIA paid Pakistan for Al-Qaeda men

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: The CIA secretly paid "millions of dollars'' to the Pakistan Government as a reward to Islamabad for handing over hundreds of Al-Qaeda suspects to America, The Times reported on Monday claiming that the "revelation'' came from the Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf's book In the Line of Fire.

The newspaper, which is serialising the book, said Gen. Musharraf did not disclose how much money his Government was paid in return for the "369 Al-Qaeda figures that he ordered should be passed to the U.S.''

In the first extract published on Monday, however, there was no reference to the alleged CIA payments.

Against norms

The newspaper said the U.S. Government rules banned such payments.

The Department of Justice was reported as saying it was not aware of the payments.

"We didn't know about this. It should not happen. These bounty payments are for private individuals who help to trace terrorists on the FBI's most wanted list, not foreign Governments,'' it said.

The CIA refused to comment telling The Times: "Our relationship with international leaders is not something we are prepared to talk about.''

The report said a "senior'' CIA figure added: "Nor do we expect these leaders to do so.''

Among the suspects whom Islamabad handed over to the U.S. was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 operation and other plots including a "planned attack'' on Heathrow airport.

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