Pakistan was aware of increased U.S. intelligence activity in the city of Abbottabad weeks before the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May, an Arab diplomat with direct knowledge of the events told CNN Saturday.
The diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak publicly, said Pakistan knew what America was doing but “never, never had any idea the operation was about bin Laden.” The diplomat was approached privately by a Pakistani to inquire about heightened U.S. intelligence-gathering activities. He said it was assumed Pakistan was asking all Arab allies.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States have been increasingly strained ever since bin Laden was killed in a Navy SEAL raid in early May.