Addressing Pakistan’s national assembly in June last year, Imran Khan had termed bin Laden , who was killed in 2011 by US Special Forces in Abbottabad, a “martyr.” "I will always remember how we Pakistanis were embarrassed when the Americans came into Abbottabad and killed Osama bin Laden , martyred him," Khan had said.
Pakistan wasn't informed beforehand when the United States Navy Seals administered Operation Neptune Spear to eliminate Osama bin Laden under cover of darkness in Abbottabad. bin Laden was accused of engineering variety of terror attacks worldwide, particularly targeting the American installations including the dual towers of the planet Trade Center and therefore the Pentagon.
Imran Khan had come under attack from opposition leaders for portraying bin Laden as a “martyr.” "He destroyed my nation, and [Khan] is looking him a martyr," former secretary of state Khawaja Asif had then blasted Khan within the parliament. Imran Khan’s remark on the slain al-Qaeda terrorist resurfaced after a year following Pakistan secretary of state Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s recent interview with TOLO News.
"He [Imran Khan] was quoted out of context. And, uh, you know, a specific section of the media played it up," Qureshi said.
When the secretary of state was pressed by the interviewer whether he disagreed that bin Laden was a martyr, he took a quick pause and said, "I will let that pass."
Qureshi also deflected blame from the Taliban for the surge in violence in neighbouring Afghanistan. “You attempt to create this impression that the violence is high due to Taliban, again, that might be an exaggeration. Aren't there other elements over there who are playing the role of a spoiler?” said Qureshi, suggesting that Islamic State and therefore the Afghan government were responsible.
