Pakistan rejects US request to quiz Major Adnan Ahmed

The Pakistani authorities have turned down an American request for access and permission to interrogate Major Adnan Ahmed of the Pakistan army for his alleged involvement in the New York
Times Square car bombing plot.

According to sources here, the request was made on May 19 when General James Jones, the national security adviser to US president Barack Obama, and Leon Panetta, director, Central Intelligence Agency, called on Pakistani president Asif Zardari, prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, and Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

However, the Pakistani military and intelligence leadership turned down the officials’ demand, saying Pakistani military authorities could interrogate Adnan, but the Americans could help in posing questions.

Kayani sacked Adnan last week after being informed by American intelligence agencies that he was constantly in touch with Faisal Shahzad, prime accused in the Times Square car bombing plot, although military officials dismiss the link.

A Pakistani military spokesman said Adnan, of the Signal Corps, was sacked for insubordination after seniors complained about him to the higher authorities.

Intelligence circles in Rawalpindi insisted he was arrested for his alleged links to Shahzad, which were established following scrutiny of mobile phone records. The major reportedly met Shahzad, a naturalised American citizen of Pakistani descent, in Islamabad during a visit to the federal capital last year.

A suspect claimed to have given $15,000 to Shahzad for arrangements for the bombing in New York.