Pakistan on Monday confirmed the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and vowed to continue its support against terrorism, saying the death illustrates the resolve of international community including Pakistan to fight and eliminate terrorism. Osama bin Laden was tracked through intelligence sources in August 2010 and killed by US special forces' in a 'mansion' in Abbotabad (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Islamabad not only confirmed the death of the world's most wanted man but also revealed that it did not participate in the operation to eliminate al Qaeda chief. "In an intelligence-driven operation, Osama bin Laden was killed in the surroundings of Abbotabad in the early hours of this morning. This operation was conducted by the US forces in accordance with declared US policy that Osama bin Laden will be eliminated in a direct action by the US forces, wherever found in the world," said a statement issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Pakistan has played a significant role in efforts to eliminate terrorism. We have had extremely effective intelligence sharing arrangements with several intelligence agencies including that of the US. We will continue to support international efforts against terrorism. It is Pakistan's stated policy that it will not allow its soil to be used in terrorist attacks against any country. Pakistan's political leadership, parliament, state institutions and the whole nation are fully united in their resolve to eliminate terrorism," the statement added.
Tellingly, the Foreign Office announced that a trilateral meeting between Afghanistan, Pakistan and United States would take place in Islamabad on May 3 (today). US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Marc Grossman, who had left US for New Delhi on April 27 arrived in Islamabad yesterday (Monday). Osama bin Laden's death been dubbed by President Obama as "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda."
Earlier, in his television address to the American people, President Obama had categorically stated that US forces alone brought bin Laden to justice. "'Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability," he stated.
The Foreign Office also revealed that President Obama had telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari subsequent to the successful US operation. The statement added that "Osama bin Laden's death illustrates the resolve of the international community including Pakistan to fight and eliminate terrorism. It constitutes a major setback to terrorist organisations around the world."
Al Qaeda had declared war on Pakistan. Scores of al Qaeda sponsored terrorist attacks resulted in deaths of thousands of innocent Pakistani men, women and children. Almost, 30,000 Pakistani civilians lost their lives in terrorist attacks in the last few years. More than 5,000 Pakistani security and armed forces officials have been martyred in Pakistan's campaign against al Qaeda, other terrorist organisations and affiliates, it added.
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