Slain al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. — Photo by AP

WASHINGTON: The CIA ran a phony vaccination program in the Pakistani town where Osama bin Laden's family was believed to be living in an effort to obtain DNA evidence indicating whether the al Qaeda leader was there, The New York Times reported.

An American official said the Pakistani doctor who ran the program in Abbottabad gained temporary access to the bin Laden compound but never saw bin Laden himself and failed to obtain DNA samples from bin Laden family members, the Times reported Monday.

A team of Navy SEALs killed bin Laden during a raid in May. US officials have said they were not certain bin Laden was in the compound in Abbottabad when President Barack Obama gave the go-ahead for the operation.

Dr. Shakil Afridi, who ran the vaccination program, has been arrested and held in Pakistani custody because of his suspected collaboration with the US, the Times reported.

The CIA declined to comment on the Times report when contacted by The Associated Press.

The vaccination program was first reported by the British paper The Guardian.

The bin Laden raid was kept secret from Pakistani officials, which has strained US-Pakistan relations. Bin Laden's ability to live for years in Abbottabad, where Pakistan's main military academy, has led to speculation in the US that some elements of the Pakistani government knew of his whereabouts.

The Obama administration is suspending $800 million of the $2 billion in aid it has designated for the Pakistan military. Citing difficulties with Pakistan, White House chief of staff William Daley said Sunday that ''they've taken some steps that have given us reason to pause on some of the aid which we're giving to the military, and we're trying to work through that.''

Opinion

Editorial

Slow start
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Slow start

Despite high attendance, the NA managed to pass only a single money bill during this period.
Sindh lawlessness
Updated 15 Jun, 2024

Sindh lawlessness

A recently released report describes the law and order situation in Karachi as “worryingly poor”.
Punjab budget
15 Jun, 2024

Punjab budget

PUNJAB’S budget for 2024-25 provides much fodder to those who believe that the increased provincial share from the...
Budget and politics
Updated 14 Jun, 2024

Budget and politics

PML-N, scared of taking bold steps lest it loses whatever little public support it has, has left its traditional support — traders — virtually untouched.
New talks?
14 Jun, 2024

New talks?

WILL this prove another false start, or may we expect a more sincere effort this time? Reference is made to the...
A non-starter
14 Jun, 2024

A non-starter

WHILE the UN Security Council had earlier this week adopted a US-backed resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza...