Osama is Dead
In an action that was as dramatic as the 26/11 attack, United States commandoes swooped in on an isolated building in Abbotabad, Pakistan, and killed the dreaded Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in the early hours of 2nd of May. The safe house was just 800 yards from the Kakul Military Training school where army and ISI operatives are trained. Abbotabad is situated in North-West Paksitan near the Pak-occupied Kashmir where reportedly Pakistani and misguided Indian youths are drilled in guerilla warfare to wreck havoc in India. It is near this place that Osama had been living with his youngest wife.Apprently the covert action was sanctioned by Obama on 2nd of April this year. Many questions now rise after the killing of Laden.
The first hinges on the Indian strategy post killing. That Laden was found encosed in a safe house near a much guarded military cantonment points to the fact that Islamabad was well aware of his whereabouts and had ensured his safe existence. This is a black and white proof
Of Pakistani complicity in nurturing terrorism. P Chidambaram’s statement that Pak is a terrorist state is to be seen in this context. Now, India can gain well by stepping up its diplomatic manoeuveres to highlight it’s case.
Secondly, US authorities have well warned that there could be a backlash against the Americans worldwide by Al Qaeda. That the killing has made him a martyr.
Thirdly, post Laden, Al Qaeda won’t crumble from within due to lack of leadership. Reports say that due to ill health Laden had withdrawn from the nitty gritty of functioning In fact, the organization had been functioning from control from a layer of well established commanders.. However, his death will be the loss of a charismatic leader which youths and cadres looked up to. Laden also had good links with moneybags of the Arab nations who funded the cause.
Furthermore, the successful military action of the US has but strengthened the hands of Obama. It will be a brownie point in his presidential fight.
Death of Osama is not a badge to be worned by the US and other nations, but calls for a concerted action to destroy terrorism from the root.