How often have you wondered about Al-Qaeda but and not known whom to ask for more details without making them wonder about the interest you seem to be showing in the foremost terrorist organisation? After Abbottabad-Terror to turmoil in Pakistan, gives an introduction to both the man, Osama Bin-Laden and his Jihadi army contained in the Al- Qaeda.
The author dwells behind the scenes of the terrorist attacks that shook our world worse than an earthquake of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale. He offers us an insight into the world of the terrorists we fear and the way they plan their operations. Al-Qaeda is a name that the western world associates with the deadly terrorist organisation of all time, but it actually has a very humble meaning.
Terror and turmoil
Al-Qaeda, literally means “the base.” The author describes some key influences of the more militant Wahhabi ideology that led to the organisation being formed. He explains the leadership, command structure, financing options and activities that the Al-Qaeda is associated with. He also studies in depth the operations that the organisation undertook under Osama bin Laden’s leadership. The 9/11 attacks in the US being the game-changer amongst these many attacks of terror have been covered in the book with a step-wise description of the event.
The implementation of various stages of the attack on America which led to the destruction of the Twin Towers and damage to the Pentagon is well outlined by the author. The aftermath of 9/11 leading to the “War on Terror” is common knowledge but the inside story of how Osama bin Laden managed to evade the forces after him for the next 10 years, makes for an interesting read.
The execution of the operation which led to the elimination of Osama bin Laden is the stuff action movie scripts are made of. Just how the US Navy Seals moved into the closed compound of the house in Abbottabad which hosted Osama bin Laden and his family members and finally eliminated him.
Osama’s tale
The Pakistani response to the event and its possible compliance in keeping Osama bin Laden safe while he was on the run from the US forces is also explored. Interviews of his wives have also indicated that the ISI was well aware of where the family fled and hid during the time that US forces chased them. This may well have been the reason why the US kept the Pakistani forces uninformed of their final operation to take out Osama bin Laden.
What became a major turning point and should be of concern to the whole world is the association of Al-Qaeda and Pakistan army — ISI — which were organisers of terrorism. And hereafter went global. The author’s opinion on the future of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India being very much interwoven makes great sense. India remains fated to live with the uncertainty of volatile neighbours, for a long time to come. All it can really do is maintain a strong defensive position and ward off whatever attack may come next to its shores maintains the author.
