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?
Dear Mr lyas Hamid,
Why be bothered is Indians are ‘gagging up’ on Pakistan ?
Why so upset with what Indian’s say or do ?
Isnt it more important for Pakistanis to douse out the fire in their country rather than being upset about Indians shouting ‘ Pakistan is on fire !.
Dont muffle the voice of the few sane/rationale people left in your country who are asking the right questions – these are the only ones who have any interest in the genuine progress of their nation and its people. The rest of the jingoistic ( lets keep denying everything – India is the root cause of our problems – these folks will only make Pakistans situation worse – and give more power to your Army/ISI to keep sacrificing the comman mans concern for ‘strategic depth’. (what a load of crock!)
YOu are probably correct that many Indians would be gloating and masquerading as american on the Internet.
But if you think that ONLY Indians are pissed with Pakistan then you are being deliberately ignorant. Turn on any american channel, Bristish channel and the MOST talked about topic is how Pakistan is playing double game with the west and why aid should not be given to Pakistan/ Or how Pakistan how be declared as a terrorist nation. They are WHITE people ( hard for us black Indians to masquerade as).
So stop with the denials – you are just making yourself look even more ridiculous.
lol its all fake , osama is not dead.
‘We didn’t know’ if this is what the ‘most feared’ agencies and army telling than god bless Pakistan. We were told time and again in fact at least 4 times in the short history of Pakistan that only army could save Pakistan. We were programmed to sing songs for them…now we know that they are responsible for destroying Pakistan with their adventures and lust for power but also are quite inept when it comes spying and intelligent gathering.
Time has come for Pakistan to repurpose resources from military so maybe we can really stand up.
I heard the speech of general Kiyani the other day…he was talking about sacrifices and national pride… I think it should start from there. If you compare the life style of our retired generals with Indians and even with Americans, you find that these guys are in for money and not for any honor.
An inept army is the reason why we are here today. Worst civilian govt is better than a dictator for a simple fact that you can potentially throw them out.
It is not a surprise that the world (specially Indians and Indians masqurading as Americans) is ganging up on Pakistan. What really hurts is to see Pakistanis also ganging up on Pakistan!
{{{- “Allah plz protect pakistan.we love n want Pakistans stability.”}}}
Allah wanted to protect you therefore you were endowed with brain, but what can Allah do if you obstinately deny to use it.