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?
CNN has had trouble with geography for years even getting American cities wrong on the map. I quit watching CNN for this very reason. If they can’t get a map right, how do we know the other information they present is correct?
Regardless of what happened ……
Atleast have some shame brothers.
Atleast read and try to understand your history
Atleast try to learn your own religion
That says ” Yahood and Nasara Cannot be your friends”
Its a high time that how someone of our so called “Pakistani” brothers still thinking about US-Pakistan relations. WOW
Despite clear revelations, Do you still want US-Pakistan relationships to prosper?
Now go ahead and call me “old timer”.
Ali,
Let Islam prosper,we are not afraid.Muslims are bend upon destroying themselves.Terrorism,dictatorship,kingdoms are not new to muslim world
What does future holds for Afghanistan/Pakistan? US has achieved psychological revenge now; they continue to spend $100 billion/pa here for these operations; Area does NOT have oil/materials and last US public is dis-interested in this part of the world.
So why would they continue to support such large operation and continue to fund both Af-Pak national armies? And looks like it will be repeat of lost decade of ’90s until and unless this region is able to scare the world (& US) with something ‘new’.
Unfortunately people of this area will continue to suffer even after 30 years of bloodshed and mass murder. Any thoughts?
What is this?
http://www.infowars.com/red-alert-government-had-o sama-bin-laden-frozen-for-years/