Pakistan's Foreign Minister fumbles when asked if Osama is a 'martyr'; questions arise over government stand

NEW DELHI: "Is Osama Bin Laden a martyer?" Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi refused to give a straight answer to this question during a recent interview, raising eyebrows about his government's view of the once world's most-wanted terrorist.

During an interview to the Afghanistani media, Qureshi was probed about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent remark in Parliament where he referred to Laden as a "martyr".

Defending the statement, Qureshi fumbled over his answer and said that Khan was "quoted out of context".

Then came the googly from the interviewer.

"Osama Bin Laden was a martyr, do you disagree?" was the blunt question directed at Qureshi. After some hesitation, he replied: "I will let that pass."



During a speech in the National Assembly last year, the Pakistan Prime Minister said that Osama bin Laden was a "shaheed" who was killed by America.

"America entered Pakistan and killed and martyred Osama Bin Laden. After which all the countries cursed us. Pakistan has faced humiliation for many years in the war on terror," he said.



Bin Laden was the mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks in America. He was killed in 2011 during a covert operation by the US Navy Seals in Pakistan's military town of Abbottabad.