Public views: Reaction to bin Laden’s death a mixed bag

Many question the efficacy and role of the country’s intelligence agencies.

ISLAMABAD:

People are shocked to learn that Al-Qaida’s founder and supreme leader Osama Bin Laden was residing in a township of the garrison city Abbotabad.

Showing mixed reactions upon hearing the sudden news of Bin Laden’s death, some called it “a good development”, while at the same time expressing apprehensions about the unpredictable fallout as far as Pakistan and its future is concerned.

Some opine that the event could be another 9/11 with particular reference to Pakistan, keeping in mind the country’s status as a front line state in the ‘war on terror’. At the same time, people have questioned the efficiency of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies if the declared lack of knowledge about Bin Laden’s whereabouts by the military and civilian authorities is to be believed. On the other hand, a few people are still not ready to believe that Bin Laden was in Abbottabad and killed exclusively by US Special Forces while Pakistani agencies were kept in the dark.

“I can believe someone if they say that Osama was in Dir, Bajaur or Mansehra. But how can I believe that Osama managed to come to Abbottabad amid such tight security and stayed there with a large number of his family members and comrades?” remarked Mubarak Ahmed, a social activist. He said that the end of the Osama saga heralds another serious dilemma for Pakistan. He questioned how the country would defend its position after the incident.

Others also attributed connivance between the ISI and CIA to the saga. “I don’t think that this was exclusively an act of CIA operatives. If so, how did security agencies encircle the site so quickly and how did the helicopters land there?” questioned Ilyas Khan, a businessman. “I don’t accept any of these illogical statements by either side,” he added.

“It is good that all the
discussion about Osama would at least end with his death,” said Fatima Ali, a student of Quaid-e-Azam University. She held Bin Laden and Pakistani authorities equally responsible for putting a significant dent in the country’s image.

Shahid Mehmood, a retired army officer, called the operation “mysterious”. He questioned how the CIA operatives remained safe during such a fierce offensive, especially since Bin Laden’s security was “equally vigilant.” He also rejected the claim that Pakistani intelligence agencies were unaware of his presence, saying, “It is unbelievable.” He added that the fact that the Americans were able to cross our border, make our radar systems defunct and carry out their mission put a serious question mark on the country’s sovereignty.

“He was a hero of Islam who fought for the cause of Muslims and embraced Shahadat as a brave man. He received bullets up front rather than on his back like a coward,” remarked Islamuddin, a resident of Islamabad. In his opinion, the entire saga was a conspiracy against Islam and the mujahideen.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2011.