Osama killing raises questions about Pakistan’s allegiances

When it was revealed that the killing of Osama bin Laden happened not in an obscure cave in Afghanistan, but in Abbottabad, just outside of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, and near the grounds of a Pakistani military academy, questions were raised about Pakistan’s allegiances. Namely, whether Pakistani intelligence officials knew about the leader of al-Qaeda’s whereabouts, and whether this revelation will further fray the already strained bilateral ties between Pakistan and the U.S. As it stands, Pakistan is an ally of the U.S. in the war on terrorism, and Pakistan is a recipient of U.S. aid and anti-terrorism dollars. Officials in the country have long dismissed the possibility of bin Laden’s presence there, so this revelation seems poised to deepen suspicions about whether Pakistan has been playing a double game, even harbouring the al Qaeda leader.

New York Times