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“Geronimo EKIA” – the words that caused jubilation in America on May 1, 2011, left most Pakistanis shocked and confused. US President Barak Obama pronounced Osama bin Laden dead in a brief speech he made to the American people.
Geronimo – the code name given to bin Laden after the Apache warrior who fought with México and America for many decades in Apache Wars and was captured with great difficulty in 19th century. EKIA is the contraction for Enemy Killed In Action. And bin Laden was the enemy number one of America as was defined in the objectives of war on terror.
The ‘action’ referred to in EKIA happened on Pakistani ground in Abottabad, an hour and a half’s drive from the capital Islamabad. After around 48 hours of the operation, there’s still a conspicuous mum from authorities in Pakistan except a shadily phrased statement from the Foreign Office. However, the media went bonkers as the news broke and remains in that condition ever since.
There seems to be a deliberate attempt from Pakistan’s intelligentsia to direct the flow of questions to a direction that saves the military establishment and the intelligence machinery of the country, of answering more important and key questions.
Capturing and killing Osama on Pakistan’s land is not as simple for Pakistan as it might seem to a few. If it is sovereignty of this country that is bothering small time politicians with no popular representation, they must ask themselves where the sovereignty comes from.
Watching countless TV talk shows in private channels, one feels a little more than nauseated. Almost all of them, on May 2, seemed to be completely lopsided in terms of having a panel from on a particular point of view.
The anchors seemed to be political leaders who would humiliate the politicians for this ‘insult’ USA has inflicted on Pakistan. Oddly, all the channels reached out to the ‘politicians’ who have no or little electoral bank and absolutely no parliamentary presence.
The overwhelming narrative that engulfed media, remained focus on ghairat (honour) and the way USA has violated Pakistan’s sovereignty in all its imperial arrogance.
Little did anyone on these pulpits tried to recall that bin Laden was anything but a law-abiding citizen of Pakistan. The biggest question regarding Pakistan’s sovereignty comes from Osama’s presence in Pakistan. How was he, along with a dozen children and two wives, given entry to Pakistan? Did he fake a passport? Or was he given an entry without the documents? Since there’s some evidence of him being here since more than five years now, one is justified to ask the secret agencies responsible for scrutinising visa applications, how this ‘irregular’ visa was granted to OBL and family? Please note that our ghairatmand media still accuses Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador to USA, for issuing ‘irregular’ visas without the approval of intelligence agencies.
A pearl of wisdom that came from Imran Khan and shared by Marvi Memon – MNA from the coalition partner PML-Q – yesterday was the implications of letting bin Laden killed by America were very serious and that Pakistanis would be the victim of more terrorism whether in Pakistan or in the Middle East. In the same breath both of them accused the government of being completely clueless about the operation about which USA didn’t let them know, thus violated Pakistan’s sovereignty.
What they fail to answer is the mother of all questions. How come Pakistan’s military – fighting terrorists in South Wazirastan – and intelligence agencies missed this prime target for so many years? An ordinary Pakistani cannot buy, sell or rent a piece of land or a one-room quarter even, without presenting his identification. Who owned and built the compound in Abottabad?
“This was a security breach no doubt,” were the words of a veteran columnist from Pakistan while talking to NDTV, an Indian TV channel. Well, it’s quite generous on those responsible for Pakistan’s security, but the question remains, if such an important target could hide in plain, naked-eye sight of Pakistan Army, can this army be trusted for the securing Pakistan’s borders? It seems Pakistan’s security and intelligence agencies have been too busy in settling scores with renegade journalists, assaulting people’s homes for anticipated information and tapping politicians’ communication to keep an eye on their own breeding center – the academy where they are producing their officers to be.
The most disturbed souls in the wake of bin Laden’s killing in Pakistan are the fiery anchors and politicians. My request would be to kindly use the brains for the sake of this fateful country and its people. Are they saying that we should have kept on supporting Osama in hiding? Hiding, in this case, would have meant an unchallenged lease of life to the terror tsar with resultant strength and sense of supremacy to all his ground forces throughout the world who have been on a killing spree for last decade.
If four helicopters could enter the country’s boundaries anytime without any check, and complete their operation in 40 long minutes without any interference from Pakistani forces, how are we going to trust this hugely financed army? Where is the justification of 18 per cent raise in defense budget even this year? Why is our highly moral media not asking these questions internally rather than getting on with ‘imperial arrogance’? Confusing people in selfish pursuit of your banal opportunism would only drive the country towards further depth of disgrace, if there’s still more down there.
Marvi Sirmed is a right’s activist and political commentator based in Islamabad.
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.
I think if one looks at the objective of the operation, one realises that, if the Pakistan authorities were not notified, it was out of secrecy concerns. Presumably it was unlikely that bin Laden had local cooperation, but it was not worth taking a chance.
Regarding how he was able to move in and purchase a house, it is clear he did not go through border checkpoints on a tourist visa, and we already know the house was purchased and built in the name of someone else. The location makes sense because any such house would draw suspicion, so by placing it where it was, anyone suspicious would presume that the occupants were secretive for reasons unrelated to bin Laden.
Pakistan is undergoing transformation under elected Government. At this juncture, they need worlds support. On the other hand, Pakistan must take criticism in good spirit.
We did it ourselves because we could not trust you.
Geronimo EKIA Excellent blog. People like the author , Nadeem Paracha , and Irfan Husain are a ray of hope and light for Pakistan . A permanent peace treaty with your Eastern neighbour will definitely make your country very wealthy and prosperous. Find a leader who can do that.
It is great moral failure.He killed so many Pakistanis and we made no attempt to catch him.Some are even so shameless that they bring out processions in his support.
A good article.Why now one has so far asked: Why do all important terrorist or offenders like to live in posh bungalows, with a number of wives and children, hi fi cars and other gadgets. A person who is fighting for Islam or anyone else for his religion should atleast live like the people he is fighting for. And the people most numerous are poor.
shame on us…there can only be two reasons he was in pakistan for last so many years,
1: we were hiding him
2:our intelligence is useless.
Waht does it mean? we are loosers.
these all articles and blog are like futile exercise! no gain from these! because bagger can't be chooser!
As an American it is refreshing to see the many comments that identify Bin Laden for what he was: a despicably evil man. Our media focuses on Pakistanis who appear to support Bin Laden and what he stood for.
If you try to hide fire in your fist, it will definitely burn your hand. Answer to this incident must be lying with ISI & Pakistan army. Pakistani people should be more rational than emotional.
Thank God for Dawn. After reading such fair minded articles such as this one from Ms. Sirmed gives me hope for Pakistan's future. Keep it up, please!
Why the Pakistan's intelligence failed to detect the most wanted man right in their own backyard? And the answer is: They were not looking for him. To kill the most wanted man is America's top priority. America's top priority is not Pakistan's top priority. Pakistan's top priority is the stable Afghanistan with a leadership responisble enough to make no territorial claim. They speak of transparency. Let the facts be crystal clear.
From an American : to our Pakistani-American brothers, we are all rid of an evil human who masterminded the death of thousands of innocent people. It does not matter where he was Pakistan, China, Russia, Antartica- the hunt was on.
Well written Marvi,
just one correction though, with regards to your questions about OBL's visa, he entered Pakistan from Afghanistan. A large portion of the AF-PAK border is unmanned and therefore one can easily cross into the other country without a passport, let alone visa. However the question still remains how OBL was able to take refuge in a house just 100 yards away from PMA. Either our army was involved or they are very incompetent.
well crafted! and similarly like your balanced conversation on Indian news channels.
As a rights activist, may want to mention why it was wrong to use "Geronimo" as a code name for the operation.
A very good blog Marvi !
Why is our ghairat-brigade not cursing the real culprits …. the ones who are defenders of our 'ideological and geographical frontiers' ???
Good riddance to Osama.
Marvi a very well written blogg…
i am bewildered when I was seeing pictures of Pakistanis who took the street, preyed and cried on Osamas death. Was it not this man and his terrorist that have been killing innocent Pakistanis in suicide bombings in market place, in mosques, buses etc….
How come he is being made a hero? How come the whole attention is on America being the more evil?
"“Geronimo EKIA” – the words that caused jubilation in America on May 1, 2011"
I think you mix up correlation and causation
Why this case should be any different then whatever is already happening in Pakistan. Incompetence abounds and no accountability in sight.
You can do one thing either rule or fight. Corruption from top to bottom. PM and president are off to make more money. It is hard to make ends meet if you have only few millions to declare on your tax forms. Govt will only be responsible as the people want them to be. Is this too hard to understand concept?
Marvi,
I wish Leon Panetta would not have used the word "Geronimo".
The Red Indian Chief was a great American hero who fought the US Army and the Mexican Army, until he was captured in battle. Geronimo is a symbol of freedom and resistance.
I hope the White House issues an apology.
Yes, you are right. I being a Pakistani now a US citizen am confused how it all folded on my mother soil. As many questions are in my mind as can be answerable. Lot of thinking needed by the honest and serious minds running the helm of the affairs in my mother country. But do such minds exist on my mother soil? I am skeptical and confused.