Osama's death a "major setback" to terror outfits: Pakistan

Islamabad, May 02: Breaking their long silence on the killing of terror lynchpin Osama bin Laden, the Pakistan government has finally issued a statement on the matter. It said that Laden's death was a "major setback" to terrorist organisations around the world.

A statement issued by Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs said, "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," it added and informed that the US forces had conducted the operation that killed Laden in the early hours of May 2.

Apart from this brief statement, there has been a suspicious silence from Pakistan's military and civil administration about the operation that was conducted in Abottabad, a town in the north-western part of the country.

Earlier after the news of Osama's death broke out, Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari called a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the chiefs of "relevant departments and agencies".

Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for the country's President's office said, "The foreign office will issue a formal statement of the government of Pakistan on the Osama bin Laden incident."

OneIndia News