As the country reflects on 9/11, and the costs and the successes and the reasons for waging the war on terror over the next several days, it should not forget the Pakistani government’s complicity in hiding the most wanted criminal in the world for nearly ten years.

While US troops separately confirmed the location of Bin Laden, and ultimately carried out the mission that brought him to justice, the initial tip came from a Pakistani government source.

Bin laden was not captured in the wild and sparsely populated northwestern region of Pakistan, he was outside the Capital—in one of the biggest houses, in one of the most affluent subdivisions. The town that Bin Laden was hiding is home to Pakistan’s premiere military institute, and hosts a large military base.

The U.S. Military was so concerned that the Pakistani government would tip off Bin Laden’s group, or even actively seek to protect him, that they only told the Pakistani government they were moving in on him the minute before the operation began.

In recent months, multiple Pakistani military officials assured the US that al-qaeda in Pakistan had been broken.

And all of this after the US has given the Pakistani government billions of dollars in foreign aid over the past ten years, and, separately, tremendous man-power, logistical help, and supplies after the devastating earthquake that struck Pakistan in 2008.

So, while our government might have to make outward gestures of goodwill towards the Pakistani government, so as to deter them from giving Iran nuclear weapons, we should never forget the shameful and inexcusable role it played in hiding the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.