The disclosure by a Canadian paper that the compound occupied by Osama bin Laden in the outskirts of Abbotabad belongs to the Hizbul Mujahideen is indeed intriguing.  In the past, despite all-out efforts by India to link Al Qaida with the Hizbul Mujahideen, it had failed to convince the world of the same. So, if there was indeed a Hizbul Mujahideen-Al Qaida nexus, as claimed by India, then why was this allegation dismissed by the international community. The Canadian paper which broke this story ascribes it to a Pakistani police officer and quotes him as saying that “the authorities have asked us not to share any information about the exact ownership.” And this is what makes this disclosure even more intriguing! Let us for a moment take this newspaper report on its face value. As we all know, the Hizbul Mujahedeen’s objective is limited to seeking ‘azadi’ for Kashmir by ‘waging war’ against India while the Al Qaida espouses global ‘jihad’ against what it sees as ‘enemies of Islam.’  So, while India is also seen as an ‘oppressor’ of Muslims by the Al Qaida and may well be on its list of target nations but it appears that at least for now, it is on low priority. Thus, there appears to be no real convergence of interests between the Hizbul Mujahideen and Al Qaida at present. So, why should the Hizbul Mujahideen host Osama, knowing very well that this would invite the wrath of the Americans and thus prove detrimental for resolving the Kashmir issue in its favour? So, it could well be possible that the Hizbul Mujahideen had accommodated Osama in its ‘safe house’ on orders from the Pakistani establishment. But then, could it be actually so? Now, Pakistan knows very well that Indian intelligence agencies are working overtime to locate what it calls ‘terror sanctuaries’ on Pak soil. And so, if this compound was indeed a Hizbul Mujahideen asset, would the Pakistan army or the ISI be so naïve as to accommodate Osama at a place which could well be under the surveillance of Indian intelligence agencies?  Surely not! Thus, the following question arise-firstly, was the compound where Osama was found and killed by US SEALS, indeed owned by the Hizbul Mujahideen? Secondly, if it was not, then why has this information come out? Is it merely a case of inadvertent indiscretion by a gullible Pakistani police officer or an intentional leak with a sinister design? Pakistan has to face many more awkward and embarrassing questions in future—an enraged world community is already demanding to know as to how come Osama was living in a compound within close proximity of Pakistan army military establishments? The world community wants to know as to what made Osama so sure of his own safety in this compound that made him dispense with his usual posse of personal bodyguards?

Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 May 2011 00:00:00 IST