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HomeNewsIndia NewsIndia says Osama bin Laden death raises 'grave concern' over Pakistan

India says Osama bin Laden death raises ‘grave concern’ over Pakistan

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INDIA seized on the killing of Osama bin Laden deep inside Pakistan on Monday (May 2), saying it showed once again that its long-standing rival remained a haven for militants.

New Delhi’s stern response came weeks after the leaders of the two sides took steps to rebuild ties using the goodwill generated by a cricket match between their teams which they watched together in Mohali.

US President Barack Obama announced bin Laden’s death at the hands of US forces in the summer resort of Abbottabad, 60 km (35 miles) north of Islamabad.

“We take note with grave concern that part of the statement in which President Obama said that the fire fight in which Osama Bin Laden was killed took place in Abbotabad “deep inside Pakistan”,” Home Minister P.Chidambaram said in a statement.

“This fact underlines our concern that terrorists belonging to different organisations find sanctuary in Pakistan.”

The government has long tried to convince Washington to get tougher on Pakistan, especially after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, while pressing its own credentials as the region’s only reliable democracy.

“India has been making this observation for a long time, that the Pakistani establishment is providing support to terrorist groups while keeping the denial process in play,” said Uday Bhaskar, former director of the New Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

“They play both sides to the middle. This shows more of the same,” he said. “Their support to terrorism as a strategic option vis-à-vis India and the US needs to be smoked out.”

India’s statement on Monday was a further illustration – if any were needed – of how far the two sides have to go to rebuild trust after Mumbai, despite the cricket diplomacy that raised hopes of a thaw.

“Pak unmasked” was the headline on the Indian news channel Headlines Today on Monday, while another channel speculated on whether bin Laden had died in an ISI safe house.

A senior paramilitary officer in Kashmir told reporters that Indian forces were “keeping watch” for possible reprisal attacks from militants.

“As India has been saying for 10 years, this confirms that Pakistan has been harbouring terrorists, so what is new?” said Gopalaswami Parthasarthy, a former Indian envoy to Pakistan.

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