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The news the world had been waiting for ever since the United States declared war against Al-Qaeda in 2001 has finally arrived: Al Qaeda’s numero uno, the most wanted man in the world, Osama bin Laden has finally been killed.
According to reports coming in at the time of writing this piece, the wealthy Saudi turned Islamist terrorist died in an attack on his hideout just outside the quiet Pakistani city of Abbotabad.
The unprecedented operation was carried out by a team of US marines that had been monitoring Laden’s movements in the area for the last many weeks.
A lot more detail report is expected to come in, especially after US President, Barak Obama, went live on television to give the news to his people and the world at large.
As CNN and BBC were showing thousands of Americans gathering outside the White House, cheering the news, the sounds and sights coming from Pakistani channels are at best bizarre.
As news anchors shoot away reading the fast unfolding news, they seem unsure whether to describe Osama’s reported death as ‘wo marey ja chukey hein’ or ‘mara ja chukka hai’, – both mean ‘Osama has been killed’, but the first sentence uses words like ‘chukey hein’ that in Urdu and Hindi is used to give respect to someone older.
So, as Pakistani newscasters (especially on the ever-animated hyperbolic private channels), continue to zigzag between ‘chuka’ and ‘chukey,’ it was only a matter of time before we began seeing what is called the ghairat brigade, or the pride brigade take their seats in front of the camera.
Pakistan’s private TV channels are brimming with the most gung-ho characters of this brigade – talk show hosts with an addiction for anything conspiratorial and rhetorical, and never far from using sheer jingoism to give weight to the shenanigans of the Pakistani right-wing, especially regarding the rightists’ blinding hatred for the US, the West, India and Pakistani politicians.
So until the writing of this piece, and merely an hour after the news about Osama’s death poured in, the usual suspects in this respect are up and running questioning the validity of the report.
The two star anchors of big media houses started behaving as if their jobs are now on the line since Osama is dead and America seems to have won at least this aspect of its war against al Qaeda. Then one after the other they started breaking with a photo which was published on the internet sometime in 2009.
The cynical display is quite pathetic, almost akin to the shock the loud mouthpieces of the agitated right-wing exhibited when Raymond Davis made a smooth exit from Pakistan, on the behest of Pakistan’s security agencies that, ironically, were alleged to have been propping up a number of media men and politicians such as Imran Khan to pump up anti-Americanism in Pakistan.
Respected journalists and analysts like Najam Sethi, Ayesha Siddiuqa, Hasan Askari and Farrukh Saleem are right to suggest that large sections of the country’s intelligence agencies are using certain media personnel and politicians to drown America’s concerns about Pakistan protecting certain al Qaeda members and those belonging to
militant Islamist outfits that America says the Pakistani establishment considers to be ‘friendly.’
Nevertheless, whereas the largely knee-jerk and quasi-reactionary narrative peddled in the name of ghairat in the media and from the mouths of some politicians and TV anchors is now sounding as empty as empty can be, the government and the military-establishment will have to think on its feet.
With Osama’s dramatic demise, the Pakistani establishment cannot hide anymore behind the padding its clumsy doings in the war against terrorists was being provided to them by sympathetic media men.
They have to answer one very simple question: In spite of the Americans claiming that Osama was hiding somewhere in Pakistan, why did the Pakistani military, who too has lost numerous soldiers in its war against al Qaeda and the Taliban, continued to deny it?
What’s more, in a frenzy to impress their masters in certain sections of Pakistan’s security apparatus, these media men and politicians were not even immune to unleash rhetoric that can leave Pakistan and its people not only isolated, but suffering from collective bouts of paranoia, delusion and xenophobia.
Whereas now it is becoming more than clear that Pakistani security agencies and the Pakistani government did have an inkling at least as to what the Americans were planning to do, instead of asking the question ‘what Osama was doing hiding in a compound situated in an area where there is sufficient presence of the Pakistan army and ISI,’ these TV men were quick to suggest that the man killed may not be Osama.
In fact, one of them confidently announced that according his sources (that’s a nice way of putting it), the man killed was not Osama. But lo and behold! Only an hour after curious claim came the report that the Americans have released the pictures of the dead body and face of Osama.
As I go on monitoring the media, the atrocious narrative questioning the validity of the news championed by these talk show hosts-turned-anchors-turned-presenters had fallen on its face and gradually replaced by a line that suggests that the Pakistan military (not the government) should also be given credit for this prize catch. That is when the race to publish the image started.
Perhaps the Pakistani security forces and institutions did play a role, but, again, with the emergence of the corpse of Osama in Pakistan, we should be asking, does this episode not validate almost all the other allegations and concerns that the US has exhibited regarding Pakistan’s rather shadowy and topsy-turvy war against terrorists?
We have to prove to the world that Pakistan is not a country that accommodates and hides mass murderers. But then, what to expect from a country some of whose politicians and media raise more hue and cry about US drone attacks (that have killed around 2,000 people, most of them militants), rather than about suicide attacks by Taliban/al-Qaeda that, ever since 2004, have slaughtered over 34,000 civilians, policemen and army personnel.
Nadeem F. Paracha is a cultural critic and senior columnist for Dawn Newspaper and Dawn.com.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
"We have to prove to the world that Pakistan is not a country that accommodates and hides mass murderers".
Dear Sir, when the opposite is true, how are you going to prove this? Until and unless this is handled by another spin doctor.
What ever happened in Abbottabad, it happened during the watch of President Zardari.He , only he is answerable to the people of Pakistan. Musharraf threw his lot with America, Zardari has been towing same line for the past 3 years. OBL was a fugitive from American justice but to kill him on Pakistani soil pre- emptively is sheer violation of country's sovereignty. Only Zardari can tell us the truth.
if only the common pakistani was ready to face the truth like nfp, the country would not become the self destructive global migraine that it is becoming today……come out of denial pakistanis!! Face the facts!!!
Good job Nadeem.All senior officials involved should be fired and put behind bars.
What a shame! Even a terrorist is not safe in Pakistan.
wao! Wao! good coment. I wonder whether our nukes are safe or not? Or for how long they are safe?
Shamelessly NFP is dragging Imran Khan's name in his column. As a mouthpiece of PPP,NFP
is looking for an excuse to malign Imran every which way. What is wrong when Imran protests against drone attacks inflicting collateral damage in FATA ?
Brilliant NFP, as usua!
Although the context is Pakistani media, the observations are true universally, much more so in case of their next door neighbours. It may sound cynical but the media, which was once considered to be the opinion maker, is now reduced to mere means of entertainment, thanks to its relentless chase of the TRP/readership and perpetual relapse into histrionics, hyperbole and hysteria.
Thanks to army and intelligence for embarrassing the whole nation. Whole nation always supported establishment and never questioned their role but now what to make of this? Either they are highly incompetent or they were hiding this terrorist on purpose? But for what? What more we could say?
A very beautiful and hard hitting article about the behavior of present day TV presenters/talk show/current affairs hosts, even though the article is about Bin Laden (Good riddance !) Indian presenters are worse i guess ( Though i hav'nt watch Pak TV shows). They considered themselves to be a expert in each and every field. They call in the expert guests, ask questions, but cut short their opinion midway; and draw their own conclusions or judgments thus insulting and irritating the respected guests, even if they are from a different country ( including experts from Pakistan ) But i have not found any article so far in the Indian print media dissecting their performance. Kudos Nadeem Bhai ! Hope India will someday see journalists who critically analyse performance of their own ilk.
It is naïve to accept that without the support of the Pakistan’s army America could have carried out the raid. I sympathize with the present leaders of Pakistan. They have inherited a very unenviable legacy and have to answer for the misdeeds of the previous regime which has given sanctuary to Osama bin laden. As the saying goes ‘Karta hai koi aur marta hai koi.’ Instead of sermonizing Pakistan on what it could have done in the past, all countries should appreciate and support its present efforts to contain terrorism.
You are confusing PPP with Kiyani + ISI, who hold the real power when it comes to protecting terrorists and pursuing a misguided strategic depth strategy with Afghanistan.
It is naive to believe that without the support of Pakistan's establishment Americans could have carried out
the raid. I sympathise with the present rulers of Pakistan
This article is correctly saying what every Pakistani should say and correct whats going in Pakistan, then only in future Pakistan will be a nation the world would be proud of.
Well eventually you get caught in your own tricks or your own lies. That is the moral of the Story.
I am confused by all of these statments. It is great that we like to make symbols out of people but ideologies are not vehicles that are depended upon one institution and they need to be eradicated by proper infusion of ability to understand and appreciate peace. I am not sure that it makes any sense that Pakistan army could possibly have anything to do with sheltering OBL since that would not resonate with the message Al Qaeda has been delivering for the last 10 years. I did not see Al Qaeda going against TTP or any other rogue elements that have been actually affecting Pakistan. We are mere specks in a much larger game. This seems to provide a much better resolution to the problem before the American troops are removed from Afghanistan. I do not intend to provide any fuel to conspiracy theories but ISI-CIA are not working against each other. These organizations are much closer than most people would give them credit for. It is certainly not possible that if either one was involved in sheltering OBL then other ide would have been kept in dark. It is also quite senseless to imagine that US force helicopters including one which malfunctioned flew from outside Pakistan. These were actually stationed in Pakistan and flew to their high value target from specific locations which are monitored by Pakistan army. I think NFP is really making this a "Rambo" like action where as this could very likely be a much more entangled situation.
What proof does presadent Zadari have that Usama Bin Laden is dead,yeat he is confadent he is gone
Sir, take your blind fold off and look around , the whole world. With the exception of the "private TV interests)" rest of the world is very sure. What proof do you need.
I wish news agencies here in America had integrity like this
Sad day for Pakistan. Along with Osama, the credibility of Pakistan too is dead in the World's eyes.
Excellent and qualitative analysis of situation.one more time this is quality of jurnalism people expect.Thanks
What a shameful day for the nation. They either have to admit complicity or incompetence.
I totally support the storming of the compound. For the world, taking this murderer out is more important than so called sovrenity.
A day of celebration indeed. Shame on Pak for the games that their military has played.
fantastic piece of writing! Glad to know that sensible and practical views exist in Pakistan. When credibility takes a beating in quick succession, it's time for the people in general to introspect about their country's future, probably like Egypt. The current fabric of political and military leadership is nothing but a joke. Time for the jasmine to bloom. It's peaceful, involves the common people and has a future that's inclusive. Without it there are many prices to be paid – credibility happens to be the front runner.
The last para has the strongest message! It's a shame how indigenous vice is acceptable to those who go on roads demonstrating against foreign exploration and methodology.
"Only an hour after curious claim came the report that the Americans have released the pictures of the dead body and face of Osama."
Why did you say this, where are pictures?
Excellent piece. Dawn is one of my favorite paper even more than many of the Indian papers as more often than not I tend to agree to what this wonderful journal brings.
Though I am eagerly waiting for Jawed Naqvi next article where he will somehow discover an India connect for Bin Laden going radical and how the non muslims of the world used Bin Laden as an excuse to opress Muslims all over the world and in India.
Rightly said:)
What about organization named MQM? Do u have guts to speak about them?
If the Pakistani military or ISI had any slim role to play in this action, it pales in comparison to the role they continue to play in hiding al-Qaeda's other leaders and Mullah Omar. As an American, I say the $2 billion per year we hand to Pakistan should come to an immediate end.
Its proved that pak army and intelligence are incompetent and didn't do their job. If they didn't know Osaka was near kakool, their top military academy then its embarrassing. If they knew he was there and they were trying to protect him, then they didn't do their job either as someone flew in and killed him right under their noses. Makes me feel less safe know.
Am wondering if Laden was a visiting faculty at the Military academy! He was too close not to be taken advantage off !
I am so glad I left Pakistan years ago. U.S is a much better place. I still love my motherland but it has succumbed to corruption and has become a terrorist haven. Illiterate Pakistanis fall for any crap thrown at them. Religion is abused, this is just another Afghanistan in the making. The citizens are stupid to sit and watch bombings happen on a daily basis. What a pathetic nation.
I believe that it is time to disband our army and particularly our intelligence agency ISI.
They have caused us nothing but harm and humiliation on a global scale, add to this their duplicity which has caused so much loss of life.
It is with great regret to say that the one institute I considered to be the saviour of Pakistan has turned out be its biggest enemy.
Its time to put an an end to all of this.
I feel ashamed of calling myself a Pakistani……I salute u Nadeem for bitter truth…….Osama has been living with the support of Pakistani military establishment……..All the lives lost in terrorist attacks are because of military support to these militant outfits…….from General Zia to General Kayani.All of them are equally responsible for this …………
very courageous article sir. wish our indian journalists had the courage to ask tough questions like this instead of a 70 year old grandpa. The people of Pakistan have suffered enormous losses because of these militants and it's about time they did some thing about it.
We knew that laden is hiding in Pakistan and protected by pakistani govts abd isi and it's ill minded people. pakistan is a country of liers!!! It's a failed state! Pakistan is hiding all criminals and terrorists for it's own agenda!! Shame on you Pakistan!!
Let us hope this will put an end to the war and all the killing. Let us also hope that militants who seek to take civilian lives find no place to run and no place to hide.
His death once again proves the general mantra in west ' every terrrorist activity in the world has either originated or has links or has something to do with that country'. I do believe that our agencies are playing a double game and it started long time ago.
"We have to prove to the world that Pakistan is not a country that accommodates and hides mass murderers."
Unfortunately that's impossible because it's exactly what you do. What your country needs to do is to make massive changes in it's leadership – that includes the politicians, military and ISI – until that happens Pakistan will forever have the image of "nexus of terrorism" and be associated with harboring mass murderer's.
As an American, I commend you on this piece. Excellent and courageous journalism.
We in the US are no strangers to coverups by our leaders, and often go down the path of getting rid of them (see Nixon, Richard). How the people of Pakistan deal with the probability that some of the military leadership helped to shelter Bin Laden will determine whether the world's opinion of your country will rise or fall.
Let me also say that, as a Christian, I find no joy in anyone's death, including Bin Laden. He needed to be brought to justice, but the loss of any life is sad.
Again, thanks to Mr Paracha and to Dawn for this piece.
I think the artile is for the consumption of Pakistani citizens only. It relovlves around the psychie about the terror and pakistani duplicity only. It misses the larger question about the terror and the role of Pakistan in furthering it. Now it has become amply clear that Pakistan is epicenter of terror network, and Pakistan is a safe sanctuary for terrorists. World can not be safe unless all the breading places and the support systems in the country are sanetised. Pakistan has a lot to answer and act in order to come clean. Else rest of the world will take up the job to do the cleaning and dismanteling the framework supporting terror. It is shameful the way Pakistani government speaks about its innocence and continues to support terror outfits. The army and ISI are the real culprit. Many more terrorists are finding shelter in Pakistan including Dawood Ibrahim, despite the official denial. They may also be eliminated like this, if the government remains in denial mode.
A very well written and thought of article indeed. As you have pointed out Pakistan suffers from the same problems as India does (did). Up until the late nineties India did not have a strong independent media, as a result politicians and businessmen got away with anything and Indian people did not have faith in the political institutions. In Pakistan the problem is slightly more complicated in that politicians are assumed to be corrupt and have no credibility among the people. Consequently there is no force in the country that can keep the military and ISI in check. Once the media becomes stronger and more independent, the will of the people will prevail.
Mr Paracha. I am a big fan of yours for your biting yet educative humour. Columnists like you are so important to cut through the fluff which is wrapping up truths everywhere. I hope all peace loving people in Pakistan read you and the doubters read you even more. I hope your self examination rubs off of Mr naqvi too.
Excellent, Nadeem Sahab. Yours is the first piece of analysis I've read and I applaud you for a job well done. You always hit the nail on the head. Thank you for this piece.
I was curious about Pakistan media's reaction on bin laden killing. It seems dawn is perfect place to know true stories of Pakistan.
I would hope that now people of Pakistan would come out in the open against the corrupt govt and military to change their ways just like Anna Hazare and his supporters are doing in India. In my view less corruption would mean more jobs and prosperity for the poor people, hence less terrorism.
Pakistan needs to ban the organizations who support terrorists like Bin Laden and Pakistanis need to have the English publications translated. I visit Pakistan 2-3 times a year and find excellent articles written in English but find myself surrounded by conspiracy theories from immediate family and friends.
How is this problem going to be corrected? I can barely have a discussion with my father as we are worlds apart in our thought process.
Terrorism kills innocent humans irrespective of religion!Politicians have used religion to focus on things which only fan emotions of common man.As a result it is Pakistanis who are suffering and has become a rogue state thanks to certain vested interests who are sheltering these terrorists..
I have been reading Dawn for the last 10 years. In times like this when either euphoria or distress takes the better sense out of men, we need sensible, peaceful and calm-headed thinking. That is what I think has been displayed in this article. Kudos to Dawn.
Whether the death of Osama is of any real consequence or is merely a free-floating image tapestry for consumption around the world – only time would tell.
A huge compund with up to 18 foot perimeter walls with wire on top in the midst of retired Pakistani brass and the military academy ? Who is fooling whom?? It was ludicrous to see Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama thank Pakistan, when the host country was not told until the raid was in motion! I acknnowledge the decency of many in Pakistan, but there are complicit elements that protected Bin Laden as there are complicit elements that are protecting the mass murderers of Mumbai.
Lets be clear. Blames lies with out so called intelligence agencies and corrupt media for spreading rumors and fairytales. We can choose to blame the govt but we all know they do not hold real power. Army allows them to exist so they have someone to blame and for media to target. I do not care if this shame Pakistan and Pakistani's……he needed to be killed and I am glad that he is gone.
I am an Indian and use to read DAWN on daily basis. I like this Nadeem's writing, specially the way he use to give left & right to the politicians. In India too, Media is very strong and our democracy has given enough opportunities to speak against evil.
Now while I have found most of the people in troubled country Pakistan gives so much of importance of religion, there are people like Nadeem F PARACHA and few others who are real hope of Pakistan.
I urge common Pakistanis to be little more tolerant towards minorities, and keep religion as a Private matter. The other day I found one comment from actress Soha Ali Khan of India that religion is something between one individual and God, why someone else has to interfere. If we all keep this in mind, problems are over.
Lastly, it has proved that Pakistani's politicians where telling lie that Osama was not in Pakistan. Similarly other terrorist too may be in Pakistan, just get rid of them.
Pakistan military has to answers for the deaths of innocents Muslims and minorities at the hand of these murderers.
Thank you Paracha. I am in the US and watching the coverage and the scenes of jubilations since last night. I have the exact same questions running in my mind which you have asked. Thank you for voicing them! God save Pakistan from its biggest enemies who reside within us-Amen!
There may yet be some hope for Pakistan, with a few good men like you.
However little such hope may be, the world stands to gain more by
responsible exercise of sovereignty by Pakistanis.
However, I fear the objective Nadeems are much too little, and far far too late
in a country blinded, rife and riddled with the Islamic Agenda.
Who got the documents from the compound, the U.S. or Pakistan? They could be dynamite if they contain proof of a link between Benazir Bhutto's murderers.
Dear Nadeem
Thanks a lot for this clear and brave atricle.
Your conclusion (last 4 lines) says it all …
Let us first decide about "mar chuka hay" or "mar chukay hein"
Your fan
I just saw a news programme on Al-Zazeera TV, in which the Arab reporters interviewed a few residents of Abbotabad, who lived in the neighborhood of the Compound where Osama lived from 2005. They said this house is strange, as it is almost 8 times larger than the houses in this area and it had about 18 feet high compound walls. The residents said the house always appeared mysterious, especially that it was located at a stone's throw away from Pakistani Military Academy and military establishment. The residents said that the town and the area is a highly Restricted Area, and EVERYBODY who wants to move in the area is subjected to a detailed security scrutinees, like checking IDs and references.
good article….for all the failed policies ,political and administrative guffaws and sheningans every pakistani need not apologise except the guilty ones…the rest we need to work for whats right and move towards getting some esteem back
Pakistani military and ISI are now going to be damaged in both ways.
1. Either they are very incompetent: They did not even know who is living in house next to their military academy
2. Or they were knowingly protecting him. That is also in contradiction to what they say.
sensible article by nfp. but again in the last paragraph nfp has shown his discontent and hostility towards Imran Khan. nfp needs to understand that the root cause of suicide attacks are these illegal drone attacks by the US. If nfp fails to understand such simple logic than he is not worthy of writing views on such a prestigious newspaper website.
Ridiculous. Suicide attacks on civilians in pakistan are caused by drone attacks on terrorists in the northern areas? are you telling me that there were no attacks in pakistan before the drone attacks started?
The suicide attacks started in 2004, the drone attacks started in 2007. SO how can the drone attacks bethe root cause ofsuicide attacks?
ALso if AMericans are sending drones, how will doing a suicide attack in a mosque help in getting revenge?
The 'simple logic' that some politicians peddle is not bought because it simply stretches credibility and does not match with logic or known facts
The root cause of suicide attacks that have killed more than 34000 people is drone attacks that did not cross the double digit until 2007 and have killed less than 3000 people? its more like you need to redo your math! And thats 34000 killed…there are many more who are handicapped for life! And they are Not Americans. What sort of a twisted mindset is this that makes it logical to kill scores of people and those too civilians and supposedly muslim brothers and sisters as assumed by pro talibans in retaliation to drone attacks which do mostly kill militants? And mind you since the drone attacks the suicide bombings which was a weakly feature before has gone down tremendously since last year at least. It will be more sensible if Imran Khan came up with a Plan B when you try to stop drone attacks by military means and the US makes an economic outcast of Pakistan in not just this region but the whole world. It will not need to drop bombs on us. We will die quite an economical death!
I love DAWN, I love it because of its extremely high standard of journalism, credibility and call spade a spade.
The most evil man after Cambodia's Pol Pot to walk on the earth has been dispatched to meet his maker to answer for his sins. Bin Laden, certainly not a martyr and thus ineligible to enjoy wine and seventy virgins in paradise, was no Muslim but a terrorist who killed more Muslims than anyone in recent times. Driven by flawed ideology and twisting great religion of Islam to his weird thinking, he demeaned his very existence as a human being. what makes me wonder is how and why people in Pakistan support him and his ideology. How come he lived so long yards from Pakistan Military cantonment, deep inside Pakistan and less than 50 miles from nation's capital. It is unthinkable that he did so without active support and connivance of people high up in politics, military and ISI.
Let us all congratulate US Special forces and President Obama to get rid of this cockroach and make the world a safer place.
You seem to know everything by sitting in UK and shaking your head or shoudl I say bobbling your head!
great piece of writing!!! keep it up!!!
Doesn't it ring any bells that not a single corpse picture is shown? And if that is to avoid any uncomfortable reactions from the (muslim) world, why on earth should his body be washed away in the sea????? Which sea? According to which law???? Very fishy ….
This confirms that our Security and Civil leaders are either LIARS and INCOMPETENT. Any resignations or firings? What, no! This is Pakistan. Fitting end for murderer of thousands of innocent non-Muslims and Muslims, and who slurred the name and image of Islam.
Bitter truth! But what can you expect from rulers that are only there to make money. We need a 'sar phira', a man of principles, a man like Imran Khan.
What is also pathetic in this episode is how he was able to live in multi-million dollar compound without getting attention of any authority in the country. Just goes to show how deep rooted the corruption has become in our society, not only the leaders. May God help us!
Well written piece. Now people outside are interested more on how Pakistan reacts to the news of Osama's death than the death itself.
Well, how people react says a lot about the society in general. The reaction of people all over your country after a prominent leader like Mr. Taseer was very interesting. People singing the songs in the praise of the killer… lawyers throwing rose petals at the killer… Says a lot about how people think in your society, doesn't it
- Nate Gupta
Great article Nadeem. Keep it up!
I have been living in US for the last 40 years. I do read Dawn just to find out the true stories about Pakistan and comments on India and US. A very good blog by Mr. Paracha. As Sanjay has written, the Pakistani people mast be made aware of the truth not just radical Islamists opinions. Thanks Dawn.
The more I hear of his death the less I believe he’s dead
http://www.infowars.com/red-alert-government-had-…
infowars is a website maintained by Alex Jones, a right wing conspiracy theory enthusiast. he also believes that obama is born in kenya and is a muslim, and that 9/11 was done by the government. you don't seriously believe that obama was frozen years ago over a raid in abbotabad which was witnessed by everyone?
I am a big fan of Dawn, u know now why, its very truth seeking independent newspaper.It has its share of faulty people like naqvi per still i am allowed to agree on some and disagree on some but thanks for yr questions, may yr tribe increase everywhere including india. Good article indeed.
This merely proves what the USA has been saying all along – Pakistan was hiding this evil man. I hope we break relations with Pakistan, cut off all aid and make your our openly declared enemy.
Oh yeah. Let us know how can we facilitate this. Also don't forget that this guy was only found and killed with the collaborative efforts between US and Pakistani agencies. Something your own President mentioned.
A lot more detail report is expected to come in (love your grammar Mr Paracha
as a Pakistani and a student in the US, I feel ashamed of my country's military and other relevant institutions. it is shameful that world most wanted terrorist was found in an area where military has large presence. I find it hard to convince myself that our intelligence agencies were not hiding this mass murderer. if we have to have some future not to speak of respect in the world community, we should question the influential people who are running the country, whether behind the scene or in public.
I don't know what to say when I go to my university tomorrow. I feel very very ashamed.
Well expressed…I am really feeling bad about you….specially that university thing which you mentioned. I suggest – Accept the fact…if somebody discusses this with you immidiately accept the fact that Pak intelligence is not as powerful as the US counterpart. that will give you some courage to discuss whats next now…
Dawn is the first Pakistan Newspaper to acknowledge that 'Kasab' is Pakistani which brought me to the Pakistan media hoping that justice will be served with the Dawn like newspapers exist, but I eventually found out only less than 10% of population are reading English news in Pakistan, I sincerely request Dawn to open its Urdu edition which will enable mass of Pakistan to get sane views from Irfan Hussain, Kamran Shafi, NFP, Ayesha, etc. Something is better than nothing, I hope Dawn will do this.
A fitting end to a man whose actions triggered wars, deaths and aggravated animosity between religions. A pity that he was found in Pakistan, a country that has suffered due to the perception that it is the epicenter of terrorism.
I just hope that sanity prevails and the leaders and people of Pakistan take the steps to reverse this descent into the abyss.