Chaudhry Ahmed Mukthar's revelations on the timing of Osama-Pakistan ties raises eyebrows

It's been four and a half years since the killing of Osama Bin Laden, but former Pakistani defence minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukthar has only now revealed that the al Qaeda chief was being sheltered by his government and Army. But why has Chaudhry spoken now? That's a question being asked to us since CNN-IBN aired this global exclusive on Wednesday night.

Pakistan Osama's benefactor

Question: So President Zardari, you are saying knew about it, General Kayani, the then Army Chief had information about it and there were people both in the civilian and military chain of command who had prior information about Osama?

Answer: Yeah

It was a brutal and frank admission by the then defence minister of Pakistan, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar about the presence of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan much before his killing in May 2011.

But why now? Is Chaudhry Mukhtar trying to send a message to the Pakistan military? Is he sending out this message to US President Barack Obama, barely 10 days before he meets Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Washington. And more importantly, a month before Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif visits Washington.

Question: You have always said that the Defence Secretary who is usually a retired Army officer is way more powerful than the defence minister who is an elected official?

Answer: Well this is what I have noted and in the times to come whenever someone writes a history book that will be when these things are corrected.

Question: Do you feel in Pakistan it is always the Army that calls the shots?

Answer: Yes, it is the military which is trained to call the shots.

Over the last three months, the Pakistan Army has been cracking down on criminal elements within political parties. The PPP and the MQM have been worst hit in this operation.

Zardari had even publically spoken out against the Army, something unthinkable in Pakistan.

So is Chaudhry Mukhtar just speaking on behalf of his boss, Asif Ali Zardari?

One thing is clear. The Pakistani establishment is rattled after CNN IBN's global exclusive. Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan's National Security Advisor has sought a clarification from Chaudhary Mukhtar.