Adil Najam
Late during the night between May 1 and May 2 in Pakistan there was news floating of a low-flying helicopter having blown up in the city of Abbottabad. There was much speculation, some wild rumors, but no confirmation of what had happened. Then, late night May 1 US East Coast Time (some six hours after the news about from Abbottabad had first started circulating in Pakistan), television screens in the US started flashing a notice that President Barack Obama would soon speak to the nation on a security issue. Rumors and speculation started flashing again.
(Unconfirmed – and, now, reportedly fake – photo of Osama Bin Laden’s dead body being shown on a private TV channel in Pakistan)
Soon it was confirmed that the news was that Osama Bin Laden had been killed: President Obama then confirmed that ke was killed in Pakistan, in Abbottabad, in an operation led by the US but conducted with support of Pakistani authorities (still not clear how much support, and whose). Reportedly, the US now has possession of Osama Bin Laden’s body.
This is a huge development in the War on Terror, even if Osama Bin Laden’s actual role had now become symbolic rather than operational. It is a development that also has huge implications for Pakistan, and for Pakistan-US relations.
More details are trickling by the minute. And partly for that reason it is not yet clear just what happened and which details are confirmed and which are speculation. What is now confirmed is: (a) Osama Bin Laden has been killed, (b) Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces, (c) Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, (d) Osama Bin Laden was killed in an operation that was eventually supported by Pakistani authorities, and (e) CNN has no idea about anything that has to do with Pakistan (according to them Abbottabad is an outskirt just outside Islamabad!
As details come in and as a narrative and reactions develop both in Washington and in Islamabad, the one big – the one biggest – question that every Pakistani is thinking about is: What will this mean for Pakistan-US relations? What will this mean for Pakistan and Pakistanis? What will this mean for terrorism within Pakistan as a backlash of this incident?
What do you think?
@Sajjad Junaidi: LOL. You still haven’t got over the World Cup?!
@Shobha: I agree … Abbottabad looks like a very pretty place from the photos that I have seen online.
What is needed at the moment is another of Osama’s videos claiming to be safe and sound in a secret location. That would really create a sensation!
Adil and The Administrator ATP, you contrary to your socalled “Comment Policy” have allowed violation of that “Policy”
and this discussion has degenerated to a very low level. Some comments do not deserve to have been posted.Perhaps your US nationality prevailed rather than your conscience of being a former Pakistani.You have allowed insults.Bol magar piyar say; my foot.
Total Number of Innocent Muslims Killed in the War Against Osama
http://sadiakomal.com/total-number-of-innocent-mus lims-killed-in-the-war-against-osama/
“What will this mean for Pakistan and Pakistanis?” Sorry to say this, but it means only one thing “Pakistan had been caught with its pants down in bed with Osama.”
Most unfortunately, its not the aam Pakistani who has been lying and fibbing about “not allowing terrorists to use Pakistani soil”, yet it is the common Pakistani who is facing the ridicule and shame in the world today. Its leaders, who have been going around shamelessly lying about not knowing where Osama is/was (and are still doing so) — will continue to enjoy their billions of $$$, enjoying power and having a wonderful time at the cost of the aam Pakistani.
And ATP, shame on you for not raising this point. Instead you are posting some lame questions.
At least “Dawn” voiced what the rest of the world is saying about Pakistan right now; truth will out someday..
http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/03/truth-will-out.html
There are lot of doubts about death of Osama, why not the Pakistani authorities clarifying the things?