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Journalism of Courage
The killing of Osama bin Laden in such genteel surroundings,literally in the shadow of the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad,shows that his story may be yet more fantastic than had been imagined. The consequences of the capture of the most hunted man of our times will be many,given that he contributed in so many ways to global instability as instigator and inspiration,as financier and a Pied Piper sort of recruiter. Whether directly affiliated to him or not and we still do not have a good enough measure of the ties that bin Laden directly nurtured there are all kinds of constituents of the al-Qaeda diaspora. Nonetheless,the biggest consequence will be for the subcontinent,where Pakistans enabling environment for al-Qaeda and its affiliates has been the principal source of regional instability,not least in Pakistan itself. Indeed,the American operation is confirmation that the war for Afghanistan,and the region as a whole,has to be fought in Pakistan.
The ISI and the Pakistan army did not offer what now appears could have been easy cooperation to make the hunt for Osama shorter,a reflection of how differently Pakistan views its stakes in Afghanistan. The powerful chief of the Pakistan army,General Ashfaq Kayani,is a laconic man,but he has made little secret of his expectation that Afghanistan is to become his countrys backyard. He also recently made claims,unusual for him,about breaking the back of terrorism. The American operation in Abbottabad will therefore pose questions of him and his army about the means they use for strategic advantage,and the quality of the cooperation extended upon promises of fighting terrorists.
