U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (Jan. 26, 2012)

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (Jan. 26, 2012) Credit: Getty Images

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is acknowledging publicly for the first time that a Pakistani doctor provided key information to the U.S. in advance of the successful Navy SEAL assault on Osama bin Laden's compound last May.

Panetta told CBS's "60 Minutes," in a profile to be broadcast on Sunday, that Shakil Afridi helped provide intelligence for the raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Afridi ran a vaccination program for the CIA to collect DNA and verify bin Laden's presence in the compound. He has since been charged by Pakistan with treason. Panetta said he is "very concerned" for the doctor.

Panetta also told "60 Minutes" that he remains convinced that someone in the Pakistani government "must have had some sense" that a person of interest was in the compound. He added that he has no proof that Pakistan knew it was bin Laden.

The Pakistani government had hoped to resolve the Afridi matter quietly, once media attention died down, perhaps releasing him to U.S. custody, according to two Pakistani officials. They requested anonymity because the investigation into charges the doctor behaved treasonously was ongoing.

SCPD officer injured at DWI crash … STI's on the rise … $40 sandwich at Citi Field Credit: Newsday

Updated 18 minutes ago Bernagozzi in court ... SCPD officer injured at DWI crash ... Teens rescue 3 men from Manhasset Bay ... What's up on LI

SCPD officer injured at DWI crash … STI's on the rise … $40 sandwich at Citi Field Credit: Newsday

Updated 18 minutes ago Bernagozzi in court ... SCPD officer injured at DWI crash ... Teens rescue 3 men from Manhasset Bay ... What's up on LI

Latest videos

Newsday Logo

ONE-DAYSALEUnlimited Digital Access25¢ for 5 6 months

ACT NOW

SALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME