DAWN.COM

Today's Paper | May 03, 2024

Published 03 May, 2011 03:37am

Osama’s killing may cut drone attacks

LANDI KOTAL, May 2: The tribesmen have showed mixed reaction to the news about killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden during an operation in Abbottabad.

Former ambassador Ayaz Wazir described the killing of Osama as a big security failure of the country and criticised prime minister for declaring the killing as a success for Pakistan in a statement. “I don’t understand what benefits Pakistan government can get from an operation, which was clandestinely carried out by US forces without taking it into confidence,” he said.

He added that the incident would further mount pressure on Pakistan for initiating a military operation in North Waziristan where Americans believed some Al Qaeda elements were still hiding.

But Said Nazir, a retired brigadier from Mohmand Agency, believed that the killing of Osama bin Laden would decrease drone attacks in tribal areas as according to him the US forces succeeded in getting their prime target.

“The killing of Osama in Abbottabad and that too near an army cantonment clearly negates the general impression that high profile Al Qaeda leaders are hiding in tribal areas,” he said.

He added that prior to Osama’s killing other top Al Qaeda operatives had been arrested from settled districts of the country.

Senator Hafiz Rashid Ahmad argued that the killing of Osama was timed by the Obama administration to use it as a slogan in the2012 elections.

Jamaat-i-Islami deputy general secretary for Fata Zar Noor Afridi termed it as an extra-judicial killing and insisted that it was a terrorist act by the US armed forces inside Pakistani territory.

“The US has no right to carry out such terrorist activity inside Pakistan,” he said, condemning the incident. He added that tribesmen would protest intervention of US forces. Former president of Fata Lawyers Forum Karim Mehsud said that the killing of Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad was a clear manifestation of the fact there was no hideout of Al Qaeda in tribal areas.

Chief of Muttahida Qabail Party Habib Orakzai said that the US had no justification to remain in Afghanistan after the alleged killing of Osama bin Laden. — Correspondent

Read Comments

Pakistan's 'historic' lunar mission to be launched on Friday aboard China lunar probe Next Story