Whom to ask, self or US or both?

Since Osman bin Laden (OBL) is believed to be killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan on early hours of 2^nd May, and the subject is being discussed all over the places around the world from different angles and perspectives wherein former as well as active personnel from intelligence agencies, journalists, political thinkers and commentators, to mention a few, have viewed it differently. On the face of it the operation in question looks to be a clear cut victory for the devil-daring SEALS of US navy for which they are being commended, honored and decorated by each and everyone headed by USA President Obama but to me as a Pakistani, it raises many trifling questions too which are not only very hard to ask but also to answer but what can I do otherwise? 131

One can write pages and pages, if not a voluminous book, on the subject who is very much foggy and shrouded in mysteries and punctuated with serious doubts in any case but I will try to focus on bull’s eye to be honest so that it is easily understood as to what I am up to. The first and the foremost question are as to where did he go from Tora Bora which was fiercely attacked both from ground and air in December 1991? Who does not know that USA had waged war in Afghanistan to capture none but Osama whose coronaries are believed to have killed hundreds of people in US on 9/11? How did many believe that he had been killed during Tora Bora war? Where did he live for so many long years since he left the rugged mountains of Tora Bora, Afghanistan when USA had bombed the area? How could he escape from the battle ground when enemy forces were all around looking for none but him? Could he easily and purely at his own without any help from others, directly or indirectly, run away from the sturdy mountainous and zigzag area which is an alien territory for him in any case? Who sheltered him, where and how? Why couldn’t he be found out when in October 2004 he released a video affirming his intention not to spare infidels in general and US in particular? 239

Pakistan is experiencing some friction, if not problems, with USA for quite some time on Taliban and Osama issue but one way or the other we did succeed to some length in completely denying that he is not with us or it is not in our knowledge and to corroborate our statement, we have been saying that had we known, we would have caught him up ourselves and most of the parties, if not all, had to believe us if we were not telling the white lie. Now when OBL is found right on our soil in Abbottabad which is next door neighbor of Pakistan Academy, Kakul, it is really very hard to believe that none knew about his presence.  Pakistanis including myself feel too proud of our armed forces in general and army in particular, intelligence agencies and interrogative agencies that are known for their professionalism. Our army had very professionally and tactfully defeated much greater army of India in 1965 which, as such, had boosted up our morale still the higher. But what happened now are quite embarrassing for the nation as a whole and each Pakistani whether living in Pakistan or overseas like me is very much disturbed and perturbed as to how could it happen? Who could be the person or group of persons or even an agency or bunch of agencies which knew about him but kept mum? Who stitched up their lips to open and tell us about OBL? 245

In all fairness, I very much oppose to the very idea that now the whole blame be put on President Asif Ali Zardari or Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani or Army Chief Gen Perviaz Ashfaq Kiyani or for that matter, Director General ISI Lt Gen Amjad Shuja Agha rather it should be shared equally both individually and collectively by all those who had manned such positions right from 1991 if not before. It is next to impossible that none knew from such a along chain but, if for academic reasons and not otherwise, I believe that not even a single person from the above mentioned lot knew then shouldn’t it be construed that they both individually and collectively failed in simple litmus test? I am mistaken, rather grossly mistaken to construe that my top brass failed in litmus which next to impossible even in the life hereafter and, therefore, they are silent for very obvious reasons to be understood by none but elite only and cannot and should not be discussed with commoners in any case under any circumstances.

No denying the fact that Pakistan itself has suffered a lot at the hands of OBL and Taleban both in terms of human life and material. I very much seriously doubt that anyone in Pakistan including intelligence agencies, NGOs, police, media, hospitals, statistical department or even mortuaries know how many have been killed directly or indirectly by OBL or Taleban and this as such very emphatically and categorically proves that Pakistan has been hit hard by such abominable humans who did not distinguish between man, woman or child when they pounced in public. The material damage simply cannot be counted whatsoever. US over many long years have many a time very openly and without any reservation or reluctance has recognized and announced publicly that Pakistan is its very trusted ally so far as fighting against the menace of terrorism is concerned which is certainly a fact and not fiction.

Will someone, in the name of Allah, speak out aloud as to what are the impenetrable and unyielding facts of the dilemma even if bitter and difficult for us to digest but still we will be relieved to know the ground realities? Ever since 2^nd instant, when this has happened, we have read and seen that our top echelon is meeting behind closed doors on the subject but it is not helping the cause. The nation wants nothing more and nothing less than a very categorical answer if we knew OBL presence or not? (to be continued)

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With my honest and solemn prayers

Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait