But regardless of the suitability of any of these names, it is imperative that this document be made public. If it cannot tell us anything new, it can help us divine what is on the minds of our deep state operators. When OBL was caught and killed, the most inexcusable failure on the part of our deep state was to come up with an explanation, a narrative. This report indeed seeks to fix that failing. But until this report is made public, we will not know the true sentiments in Rawalpindi, Islamabad or Aabpara.
In recent years, we have lost many of our friends, both in Khaki and Mufti, to the world of conspiracy theories. Our think tanks that once offered us some food for thought are hell-bent on proving some of the most madcap conspiracy theories, such as the High Altitude Research Programme and fourth generation warfare, allegedly introduced by the US on our soil. One fears the day when SUPARCO might be asked to investigate the “Stargate” lore.
In this never-ending state of denial and paranoia, anything sold by the Commission would have been welcome. At the beginning of this investigation, some sources indicated to this scribe that the Commission might try to challenge the fact that the man killed in the operation was indeed OBL. Mercifully, this line of hypothesising was abandoned and now, through the leaks, the commission continues to humanise the slain al Qaeda chief. And that raises an important question. What does our deep state actually think of OBL and his cohorts? Is it possible that there is still some degree of sympathy for the butchers of al Qaeda?
Let me be honest. The people I come across from the army and the intelligence community vociferously condemn the activities of al Qaeda and its Taliban allies. Similar disgust was readily available over the Malala episode. But while these gents show their conviction to root out the menace of extremism, someone somewhere silently forwards more conspiracy theories to complicate the situation. When these theories are traced back to their original sources, one is baffled to note that our deep state continues to be the patron.
Is it possible then that our intelligence community has been affected by schizophrenia and that while there are Taliban apologists hiding in its ranks, there are also those who do not have any sympathy for them at all? Apparently, the answer is yes. But to the cynical mind of this scribe, it appears to be the age-old exercise of good cop, bad cop and nothing else. As a citizen of this country, I do not care much for US concerns. But I need answers to know what will happen to us when the American forces leave the region. And if Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal cannot provide these answers in time, then he needs to be replaced with someone who can.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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Watch seal six. released on TV. You do not need any commission report.. How they do it. plain and simple. I do not know why they wasted money on this commission.
During the days of Maharajah Ranjit Singh. If some serious thing happened. Muslim leaders use to approach Maharajah to take action, Maharajah was very good administrator and leader. To keep down Muslim anger, He use to summon his Wazeir and order inquiry, Muslim leader satisfied and happy by his action. Government of Pakistan is following Maharajah Ranjits strategy.
Whar difference will any commission report make to an average Pakistani? Very little given the organized disinformation campaign carried out post OBL termination. Hidden state has succeeded in their objectives of hiding the truth, protecting their interests and maligining others. Let it go, doesnt matter any more.
What was the mandate of the inquiry/commission? Was it to determine why the US raid was not detected and thwarted by Pakistan? It does require rocket science to come up with the answer. You use US equipment which is definitely not the top of line as far the US is concerned. The quality and sophistication of the weapon hardware the US sell to country is determined by it benefit and relationship with the US. Pakistan does not rank on top of the scale. Recall the famous F-16s, they were not packed with the same technology and gadgetry as the ones sold to Israel or inducted in the NATO programs. So do you'll honesty expect to withstand US military ventures with equipment bought from the US - isn't that asking too much. The commission should have concerned itself with hard facts, in other words. boldly determine whether OBL lived in Abbottabad with approval of 'powers to be' or whether he successfully deceived four security agencies. If the later, then who carried out the security combing of the area on a biannual basis and what were the findings of each security combing.
The real conspiracy seems to be that the people of Pakistan and the world are kept in the dark as to who is actually controlling Pakistan, in spite of Abbotabad and Malala incidents!
The situation, in fact, is quite simple, and we know it.
If the report is made public, it will not contain the truth.
If it contains the truth, it will never be made public.
Have we not seen the report on the Memogate and Haqqani?
Time is not only up for Abbottabad but whole of Pakistan itself. Save your country now if you can and best wishes for the same from a well-wisher living across the border.
The report of the Abbotabad Commission should be made public. Let the people decide from its contents whether there is a genuine reason for the mistrust between the allies in the war on Terror.
@Hashmi: "keeping conspiracy theories aside, was there an OBL in the first place, does the report prove it?"
Obama's widows wee extensively interviewed by Pakistani establishment. If there had been the slightest doubt about his presence in Abbotabad, Pakistani establishment would have made those facts public. Zawahiri and Al Qaeda also said immediately after that the death would be avenged.
Except for a few conspiracy theorists no-one doubts that OBL lived there and was killed by Nay Seals. What the world wants to know is if there was any establishment support in letting him live incognito. What Pakistan establishment wants to know is who (besides Afridi) helped US in reaching OBL.
If all you wanted to do was investigate how the USA military was able to enter Pakistan and perform this operation all you had to do is ask the American's --- they aren't embarrassed by their actions and have no reason to pull punches. The real question that the rest of the World wants answered is how OBL could live for 10+ years in apparent comfort in Pakistan living many years adjacent to your prestigious military academy with little concern about discovery. The lack of any meaningful effort by Pakistan to find those who were helping OBL maybe more insightful than anything included in the Abbottabad report.
keeping conspiracy theories aside, was there an OBL in the first place, does the report prove it?
Such operation of such magitutde, with the reputation of US of A and Obama ar stake, the whole afghanistan occupation at stake and one state of the art helicopter goes down...
The answer for what happened lies in copter that went down.
In the end, the local SHO will be blamed for not monitoring the house. Thats that, our mighty security apparatus have nothing to do with this, until the point that they can take credit for something.