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July 7, 2011 Special Dispatch No. 3977

After Bin Laden's Killing: Editorials in Pakistani Dailies Examine Pakistani Army's Two-Sided Approach to Militants, Pakistanis' Disbelief Regarding bin Laden's Killing, and Fears of Threat to Pakistani Nuclear Weapons

July 7, 2011
Pakistan | Special Dispatch No. 3977

A day after the May 1, 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad, in a house near a Pakistani military academy, Pakistani newspapers wrote editorials expressing disbelief among the Pakistani people that the U.S. could carry out a military operation to kill the Al-Qaeda leader without the knowledge of Pakistani military, and discussing the serious ramifications of such an action by a foreign nation for the safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons.

In a country where masses have come to believe that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) virtually rules all aspects of their daily life, the editorials cautiously questioned the Pakistani military's supposed lack of knowledge about Osama bin Laden while he was living right next to the Pakistani Military Academy (PMA) at Kakul in Abbottabad. Several editorials also expressed concern over the Pakistani military's policy of choosing which militants to fight and which to protect.

Most of the Pakistani newspapers, while noting that the Al-Qaeda threat is not over, also stressed that the Pakistani state needs to be clear about its goals in the war against terrorism. An editorial in The Express Tribune daily urged the Pakistani state to admit that the war against terrorism needs to be fought sincerely, noting: "It is morally unjust for the state to deny that the war against terrorism is Pakistan's war. Coupled with economic collapse, this policy of isolationism can irreparably damage Pakistan..."

Following are excerpts from a Frontier Post editorial,[1] from a Daily Times editorial,[2] from a Dawn editorial:[3] from the Express Tribune editorial,[4] and from a News editorial:[5]

Frontier Post Editorial: "The Osama Episode"

"[Bin Laden's Killing] has Triggered Very Disturbing Questions in People's Minds; They are… Deeply Flabbergasted… That Our Intelligence Agencies Were So Ignorant"

In an editorial titled "The Osama Episode," the Pakistani newspaper The Frontier Post noted:

"The doing in of Osama bin Laden is certainly a momentous episode, although it is a moot point if this would even enfeeble the Al-Qaeda movement. Long ago, he was reduced to a mere spiritual inspiration for blood-soaked violent campaigns carried out in the garb of religiosity.

"In reality, the movement has never been a monolithic organization. At best, it has been a conglomerate of regional and national outfits, each with its own agenda, and all given to violence and bloodletting to perpetuate their designs.

"Even the legend that Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri is commonly being projected into is a stretch, even as he is an existential threat to Pakistan for having openly called for its destruction and declared war on it to this end. He may be known as Al-Qaeda's military commander and operations chief. But each outfit running under the generic name of Al-Qaeda has its own masterminds, commanders and cadres, sources of funding and arms, and chain of control and command.

"So even if Al-Zawahiri is eliminated, the bloody Al-Qaeda movement will keep going on unless the causes it feeds on, like the Palestinian and Kashmir imbroglios, organized western anti-Muslim hate campaign and Western capitals' bolstering of repressive regimes in the Muslim world, are removed and extremists are thus marginalized from the national mainstreams…"

"But whatever it is, the Osama episode has pushed Pakistan into dire straits, both internally and externally. Internally, it has triggered very disturbing questions in people's minds troublingly. They are, firstly, deeply flabbergasted… that our intelligence agencies were so ignorant that he was holed up not in a secluded niche but in quite a populated residential area of a bustling city like Abbottabad for as long as some three years.

"And they are really horrified that the American navy special forces SEAL commandoes came flying freely in four helicopters deep inside our territory and remained engaged for about two hours in their raid on Osama's hideout, which lay in close proximity to an army garrison and just a stone's throw from the Pakistan army's premier Kakul officers' training academy. And yet this intrusion drew no response either from the army or the air force."

"[Bin Laden's Killing] Has Dented the Pakistani Military's Public Image Seriously; It has Simultaneously Stirred Worrisome Concerns… About Our Precious Nuclear Assets' Safety and Security from Foreign Assaults"

"The American raiders or their controllers may have jammed all the Pakistani radars. With a military budget greater than that of the entire [rest of the] world combined, they do possess state-of-the-art weaponries and technologies. But what is agitating the people disconcertingly is at least a reaction could have come when the American raid continued for hours in so close of vicinity of army's establishments.

"So while this episode has dented the Pakistani military's public image seriously, it has simultaneously stirred worrisome concerns of the people about our precious nuclear assets' safety and security from foreign assaults.

"Externally, this episode has precipitated gigantic problems for Pakistan. For the first thing, it has given tremendous grist to Pakistan's detractors campaigning to project it as global terrorism's epicenter and terrorism state sponsor.

"Secondly, it has opened up gates wide to the Americans, not only to intensify their drone incursions but also to mount ground raids wherever they want on our territory. And since they assert that North Waziristan has become a hotbed of Al-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban's Haqqani group from where they attack American and allied forces in Afghanistan and Quetta being the base of Afghan Taliban's leadership, it should be no surprise if these two places now come under such assaults. Thirdly, this American raid would certainly serve an emboldener to others, too, to take to such incursions into our territory.

"Hence, the political and military leaderships of the country must huddle together and think out how to cope with the aftermath of this American raid and its severe negative fallout. For what looked until yesterday as impossible has now become possible, and the improbable, probable.

"A joint session of the parliament must be convened immediately to meet in camera, where the top military and intelligence leadership must sit with the lawmakers to formulate a common strategy in this regard. Even political leaderships outside the parliament must be invited to this special session…"

Daily Times Editorial: "Osama Bin Laden is Dead"

"Osama Was Now Basically a Symbolic Figure, a Source of jihadi Inspiration; There are Many Chiefs and Leaders Waiting In the Wings to Take Over Where bin Laden Left Off"

In an editorial titled "Osama bin Laden is Dead," the Lahore-based Daily Times newspaper observed:

"In slightly suspicious developments, the U.S. is said to have taken custody of Osama's remains and quickly buried him at sea. They have cited it as the only way the Islamic rite of speedy burial could be ensured while some U.S. reports say that they would be hard pressed to find any country willing to host the terror figure's body.

"However, it is likely that the U.S. had already realized that any Osama burial site would become the symbolic rallying ground for a future generation of jihadists inspired by Al-Qaeda's founding father. Instead of providing them with a shrine, they ended the man's 'legacy' as an inspirational figure for new recruits.

"The entire world is in a jubilant mood, celebrating the reported death of the world's most notorious man. Americans congregated outside the White House in what appeared as final closure for so many who had lost their loved ones in the 9/11 terror attack. Congratulatory messages poured in from all over the world and President Obama rode high on a victory wave in this long drawn war.

"While this development is a great step forward, one cannot help but think of it as more of a psychological victory in a war where the enemy is shadowy and spread out all over the world. Al-Qaeda's war is a global one, with a global agenda and tentacles spread out in far-flung places.

"It must be said that Osama was now basically a symbolic figure, a source of jihadi inspiration. It would not be far off to believe that there are many chiefs and leaders waiting in the wings to take over where bin Laden left off. While his death is a definite blow to the militants, it provides them with the perfect chance for bloody retribution."

"Whilst We Have Been Allies of the U.S., We Have Been Very Trying Partners, Picking and Choosing the Militants We [i.e. the Pakistani Army] Wanted to Root Out and the Ones We Wanted to Protect"

"The U.S. and its allies – especially Pakistan where bin Laden was killed – will be sure terror targets. It is little wonder that the U.S. is on red alert security. Pakistan had also better watch out. We have been aiding the Americans and have been victims of home-grown terror and militants who have idolized bin Laden. With Pakistan allowing the Americans to conduct counter-terror operations here, we are bound to be targeted in very painful ways.

"Pakistan has found itself in quite the embarrassing situation. Osama bin Laden was found in a military town just a mile or so away from the Kakul Military Academy [in Abbottabad]. How he was able to hide there without any action on our part is going to be a hard sell to the Americans. So far, we have been milking the same excuse: joint intelligence and a willingness on our part in counter-terror operations led to this victory. Scratching beneath the surface may reveal other truths entirely.

"Whilst we have been allies of the U.S., we have been very trying partners, picking and choosing the militants we [i.e. the Pakistani Army] wanted to root out and the ones we wanted to protect.

"No doubt in the coming days, Pakistan's exact role in the war on terror and Osama's death will become clearer. It is hoped we will not be on the receiving end of negative fallout with the Americans, who are in this war for the long haul."

Dawn Editorial: "Osama Bin Laden"

"The Groups… [bin Laden's] Ideology Has Generated Continue to Plot Attacks, Especially in Pakistan"

In an editorial titled "Osama bin Laden," the liberal Pakistani newspaper Dawn noted:

"In many ways 9/11, Osama bin Laden's signature attack, has come to define the last 10 years. It has shaped U.S. foreign policy to a greater degree than any other development of the decade and led to two major wars, one of which continues today. It has resulted in gross violations of human rights in the name of the 'war on terror.' It has transformed Pakistan and Afghanistan, dragging them into ideological divides and violence. The latter [i.e. Pakistan] has claimed many more thousands of lives than were lost on 9/11.

"All of this can be traced, directly or through those inspired by him, to Osama bin Laden, a former jihadi fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan who later decided that American interference in the Muslim world justified indiscriminate violence against the U.S. and those Muslim nations cooperating with it. Al-Qaeda had already been weakened significantly since the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and the effects of Bin Laden's defeat should not be overstated. The groups his ideology has generated continue to plot attacks, especially in Pakistan.

"As dramatic as this saga was the end itself, a tale of patient sleuthing resulting in a high-risk operation that is the stuff of spy flicks. It took years for American spies to track down a courier working for bin Laden based on information revealed by Guantanamo detainees, and then months to confirm that bin Laden was living in the compound. For this detective work and the successful operation, credit must go to American intelligence and Special Forces.

"But the event also raises a slew of questions about the level of cooperation with Pakistani intelligence and the military. Were they taken into confidence? If so, at what point? Were they consulted or simply informed? Did they play a role in the operation? If the attempt was purely an American one, were Pakistani radars jammed or dodged? If so, does this point to a failure of Pakistani defense systems? As long as the lack of official disclosure persists, conspiracy theories will continue to spread fear and suspicion here at home."

"As for Pakistan, the Time for Denial is Over; Bin Laden Was Not Holed Up in a Cave; He was Living in a Large House… in a [Pakistani] Garrison Town Housing a Military Academy"

"As for Pakistan, the time for denial is over. Osama bin Laden was not holed up in a cave in the tribal agencies. He was living in a large house surrounded by high walls topped with barbed wire in a garrison town housing a military academy. The idea that the world's most wanted criminal was spending his days there unnoticed by Pakistani intelligence requires either suspension of disbelief or the conclusion that the authorities are guilty of a massive intelligence failure.

"Both hypotheses are disturbing. If the former is true, the [Pakistani] state must realize that extremist ideology has killed thousands of Pakistanis and that there needs to be a single-minded effort against it rather than a selective approach that has failed to keep the country safe. And if the oversight was a matter of incompetence, the authorities need to improve their game drastically.

"In the years immediately following 9/11, Pakistani intelligence and police worked closely with the CIA to take out a number of Al-Qaeda leaders, almost all of whom were found in cities rather than the tribal areas. This is something we clearly know how to do but no longer seem interested in, with the result that the U.S. no longer trusts us enough to plan an operation jointly, even in such high-stakes circumstances, on Pakistani territory. As positive a development as Osama bin Laden's removal is, for the Pakistani state it should be a moment for deep and honest reflection."

Express Tribune Editorial: "Osama Bin Laden and After"

"The Obvious Question Arises: What was Osama bin Laden Doing in Abbottabad, a Garrison Town, In a House That Was a Stone's Throw Fom the Pakistan Military Academy"

In an editorial titled "Osama bin Laden and After," The Express Tribune daily noted:

"Osama bin Laden's death will be good for Pakistan in the long run, even as the threat of retaliatory acts of violence by jihadi outfits is a very real one. Moreover, those who think that the war against terrorism is over, are mistaken because the ideology spouted by bin Laden and his ilk, coupled with perceived injustices caused by American foreign policy, will leave the impetus for attacks against the U.S., its interests and its allies more or less unchanged. There may well be some adverse impact on Pakistan's relations with America as well, depending on what exactly happened in the run-up to the operation in Abbottabad that eventually killed arguably the world's most wanted terrorist.

"The words used by the U.S. president would suggest that it was an operation carried out exclusively by the Americans and the [Pakistani] Foreign Office's statement, issued several hours after the news broke, also confirmed this. American news reports have said that the Pakistanis were not told of the identity of the 'high value' target till just before the operation began. If all of this is true – and it really seems fantastical on the face of it that something like this could have happened without Pakistan's tactic or overt approval/assistance – then the obvious question arises: What was Osama bin Laden doing in Abbottabad, a garrison town, in a house that was a stone's throw from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA)?

"How was bin Laden's presence not detected by Pakistani intelligence agencies given that Abbottabad is not some remote, relatively inaccessible location in, say, Fata [Federally Administered Tribal Areas situated along Afghan border], but is less than two hour drive from Islamabad, and is a tourist spot in itself. The character of Abbottabad city is stamped with military symbols, its economy dependent on an unusually large military presence. Abbottabad is also close to Mansehra where, right after the Mumbai attacks, a training camp run ostensibly by the Lashkar-e-Taiba was shut down by the Pakistani authorities."

"How Did They Get to Reside in a Large House Barely a 15-Minute Walk From the…[Pakistan Military Academy]? Who or What Provided Bin Laden with the Sense of Security He Needed Before Settling in Abbottabad?"

"The U.S. president said that he had known about bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad since August 2010 but decided on the operation only 'last week.' The question to ask here is, that was this operation kept under wraps from Pakistan as well, and if so, was this because of the recent tempestuous relations between the ISI and the CIA? Mr. Obama did say that there was intelligence cooperation from the Pakistanis, though the statement by Pakistan's Foreign Office said that the operation was an American one, in line with America's stated policy of using all the resources at its disposal to get bin Laden.

"According to reports, the Americans have captured two wives of Osama along with some children. Once they land in the U.S., we may well expect some more revelations. The Arab wives may not know much about the geographic landmarks of Pakistan but their 'debriefing' could well reveal a lot about the range of movements they made with Osama and without him, about who gave them shelter and who took them around, and who was responsible for their day-to-day housekeeping. How did they get to reside in a large house barely a 15-minute walk from the PMA? Who or what provided bin Laden with the sense of security he needed before settling in Abbottabad?

"Many questions will be asked, if not in Pakistan then outside Pakistan. Was bin Laden given a sanctuary by the Pakistanis, in a place least suspected of being a hotbed of terrorism, in return for concessions on the Taliban front? Or whether the intelligence that led to his death, in fact, came from Pakistan, and if so, why isn't Pakistan owning up to this and claiming credit for snaring a universally wanted man?

"In all of this, one thing is clear: Pakistan should have hunted the man down on its own, because America is not the only country that has suffered at the hands of Al-Qaeda and its allied jihadi outfits. Pakistan and its people have suffered thousands dead and many more maimed. Clearly, it was very much in our own interest to cut down Al-Qaeda and dismantle it, but it seems some people had other ideas. Every time an American official said Osama could be in Pakistan – the last one who said this was U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton –Pakistan's answer was, give us 'actionable intelligence' and we will take action against him. Was 'actionable intelligence' shared by the CIA with the ISI, considering that President Obama has mentioned 'cooperation' from Pakistan in his speech? If that is the case, then a new chapter of fence-mending may have started between the two agencies."

"It is Morally Unjust for the [Pakistani] State to Deny That the War Against Terrorism is Pakistan's War; This Policy of Isolationism can Irreparably Damage Pakistan"

"The war against terrorism is not over, but certainly a very important chapter has come to an end. Osama bin Laden was the central icon of a movement that has engulfed the entire Islamic world. He was a magnet to the Arab warriors but it is likely that Al-Qaeda itself will not die with him and will be run by Ayman al-Zawahiri.

"Pakistan's jihadi organizations have owed allegiance personally to Osama, with the Taliban calling him 'Sheikh Osama' in their pamphlets. A Pakistani, a former army commando, by the name of Ilyas Kashmiri will likely be al-Zawahiri's second-in-command. Chances also are that Osama's death will trigger revenge attacks from Al-Qaeda and its local affiliates, that is, if Osama's rather tame death in Abbottabad does not imply the beginning of the end of terrorism in Pakistan.

"Pakistan may well also face the brunt of global backlash and criticism if it still denies the presence of Al-Qaeda operatives on its soil. That said, Pakistan's home-grown extremism and anti-Americanism will create problems for the [Pakistani military] establishment as well as the elected government in case any strategic adjustments are made in the wake of bin Laden's death and the blatant rebuttal of the Pakistani claim that he was not in Pakistan.

"The 'Al-Qaeda connection' that began during the war against the Soviets and continued later in the nexus with Pakistan's jihadi militias, has done Pakistan no good. The state has virtually lost its internal sovereignty even as the Pakistan military strives to protect its external sovereignty. It is morally unjust for the state to deny that the war against terrorism is Pakistan's war. Coupled with economic collapse, this policy of isolationism can irreparably damage Pakistan unless some corrective measures are now taken."

The News Editorial: "The Fall of Osama"

"Bin Laden Has Been Found on Pakistani Soil; There may Be Other [U.S.] Attempts to Go After Key Militant Figures in Different Urban Centers; The Thought is Not a Comforting One, Considered in Light of Its Implications for National Sovereignty"

In an editorial titled "The Fall of Osama," the leading Pakistani newspaper The News wrote:

"The delighted reaction over his death in a U.S. operation that has poured in from many parts of the world is thus expected. While Washington has led the chorus, the rest of the West has chimed in. Not unexpectedly, India and Afghanistan have wasted no time in repeating their allegations of Pakistan harboring terrorists. Within Pakistan though, except amongst the extremist outfits, there will be relief that a man whose operatives claimed lives in cities everywhere is no more.

"Certainly, the astonishing manner in which the operation that resulted in Bin Laden's death… leaves us all gasping in astonishment. Bin Laden, and it appears that at least two other persons including a woman, were killed in what the U.S. says was a gun-fight, as helicopters swooped towards the palatial house where he, his guards and some family members apparently lived. This estate stood not in some remote, mountain valley but in a peaceful Abbotabad suburb, only kilometres away from the Kakul Military Academy.

"The failure of Pakistan to detect the presence of the world's most wanted man here is shocking – though there is still a lack of clarity as to what role, if any, our security and intelligence apparatus played in the whole affair. It is hard to believe that foreign aircraft could have flown so deep into our territory undetected and unanticipated. Delay in any kind of official response only added to the initial confusion, with a [Pakistani] Foreign Office spokesperson finally issuing a statement after an emergency meeting at the presidency that the action against Bin Laden had been carried out in line with U.S. policy to go after him anywhere in the world…"

"Many questions still hang in the air. We may find answers to some of these questions in the near future. Other questions may remain a mystery for far longer. For Islamabad, the whole business is something of an embarrassment. Despite years of fervent denial, Bin Laden has been found on Pakistani soil. And now that the brazen U.S. action in Abbotabad has happened, there may be other attempts to go after key militant figures in different urban centers. The thought is not a comforting one, considered in light of its implications for national sovereignty.

"Security has been stepped up at U.S. consular buildings and in all cities. There have been reports of sporadic protests – but it is not known if these will expand. A lot may depend on how the operation and Pakistan's role in it are perceived. The Western jubilation we are seeing on our television screens should not distract us from the fact that militancy will continue. It has not died with Bin Laden. Al-Qaeda has, over the years, splintered, and given rise to many other groups. These will continue with their actions; revenge may be attempted – and the dangers we face are, tragically, far from over, even if the killing of bin Laden delivers a demoralizing blow to militants everywhere."


Endnotes:

[1] The Frontier Post (Pakistan), May 3, 2011. The text of all editorials in this dispatch has been lightly edited for clarity.

[2] Daily Times (Pakistan), May 3, 2011.

[3] Dawn (Pakistan), May 3, 2011.

[4] The Express Tribune (Pakistan), May 3, 2011.

[5] The News (Pakistan), May 3, 2011.

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