Although the Pakistani government had long declared that Osama bin Laden was not hiding in their country,<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/03/brown-praises-pakistan-terrorism-fight</ref> <ref>http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-07/pakistan/27281957_1_al-qaeda-pakistan-president-pervez-musharraf-state-colin-powell</ref>U.S. intelligence estimated in 2011 that bin Laden had been hiding there for five to six years,<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13268517</ref> and counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan said it was "inconceivable that Bin Laden did not have a support system" in the country. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari responded with an op-ed to the Washington Post, rejecting claims that his government helped Al-Qaeda by writing "such baseless speculation may make exciting cable news, but it doesn’t reflect fact."<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pakistan-did-its-part/2011/05/02/AFHxmybF_story.html</ref> | Although the Pakistani government had long declared that Osama bin Laden was not hiding in their country,<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/03/brown-praises-pakistan-terrorism-fight</ref> <ref>http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-07/pakistan/27281957_1_al-qaeda-pakistan-president-pervez-musharraf-state-colin-powell</ref>U.S. intelligence estimated in 2011 that bin Laden had been hiding there for five to six years,<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13268517</ref> and counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan said it was "inconceivable that Bin Laden did not have a support system" in the country. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari responded with an op-ed to the Washington Post, rejecting claims that his government helped Al-Qaeda by writing "such baseless speculation may make exciting cable news, but it doesn’t reflect fact."<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pakistan-did-its-part/2011/05/02/AFHxmybF_story.html</ref> |