News of Osama bin Laden’s death was generally welcomed across the Middle East.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said bin Laden’s killing by U.S. forces shows that terrorists are eventually caught, whether dead or alive.
In Israel — a key target of bin Laden’s wrath — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the al-Qaida leader’s death a resounding victory for justice.
In Iraq, which saw some of the worst sectarian violence carried out under the banner of a local al-Qaida group, there was optimism. But Iraqi security forces went on high alert for possible retaliatory attacks.
Saudi Arabia — bin Laden’s birthplace — said through its official news agency that it hopes his death will contribute to anti-terrorism efforts.
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, however, condemned his killing — calling bin Laden an “Arab holy warrior.” And ministers from Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates declined comment.
In Yemen, bin Laden’s ancestral homeland, an official speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters he hopes bin Laden’s death will “root out terrorism throughout the world.”
In Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Monday that with bin Laden’s death, there is no longer any need for foreign nations to send troops to the region to fight terrorism.
While Pakistan is calling Osama bin Laden’s death a major setback for terrorist groups around the world, as the Pakistani Taliban vows to step up attacks against U.S. and Pakistani interests.
The Pakistani foreign ministry said Monday U.S. President Barack Obama telephoned Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari earlier on Monday to discuss the killing of bin Laden during a U.S. military operation in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad.
The Pakistani spokesperson said the operation late Sunday was conducted in accordance with declared U.S. policy that bin Laden will be “eliminated” by U.S. forces, “wherever found in the world.”
The government’s response came several hours after President Obama’s announcement of bin Laden’s death.
Few knew of plan
The al-Qaida leader was killed during a night raid by elite U.S. forces on a highly-secure house in the city of Abbottabad, roughly 50 kilometers north of the capital, Islamabad.
Officials told VOA the U.S. did not share intelligence about the operation with any country, including Pakistan, and that very few people in the U.S. government knew of the plan in advance.
The foreign ministry noted Monday that al-Qaida had declared war on Pakistan, with nearly 30,000 civilians and 5,000 members of the security forces killed in terrorist attacks in the last few years.
Bin Laden wives, children detained
Meanwhile, the Pakistan English-language television station Express 24/7 reports two of Osama bin Laden’s wives and six of his children have been detained by U.S. forces. The station also reports that four of the terrorist leader’s aides have also been arrested.
The Pakistani Taliban on Monday threatened further attacks against the Pakistani and U.S. governments in revenge for bin Laden’s death.
The foreign ministry said Pakistan has played a significant role in efforts to fight terrorism and that its soil will not be used in terrorist attacks against any country.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Pakistan, following the arrest of a CIA contractor in Pakistan, U.S. drone strikes against militant strongholds in northwest Pakistan, and a recent White House report saying Pakistan is not doing enough to target Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants on its soil.
Over in India, India says the recent killing of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan shows the country is still a sanctuary for terrorists and militant groups.
In a statement Monday, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram noted with “grave concern” that bin Laden was found hiding in a palatial villa some 50 kilometers from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. He says the fact underlines India’s concern that terrorists belonging to different organizations find sanctuary in Pakistan.
Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said the killing was a victorious milestone and added that the world must press to eliminate safe havens and sanctuaries provided to terrorists in their own neighborhood.
The statements came as Indian security forces were put on high alert for possible reprisal attacks. Officials also renewed calls for Islamabad to arrest suspects allegedly behind the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1957. Relations between the two have been particularly tense since the 2008 attacks that left 166 people dead in the Indian financial capital. India has blamed Pakistan’s government of providing support to militant groups. Islamabad has denied involvement.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
