Islamabad found itself in an uncomfortable position on foreign television when British host Piers Morgan challenged Pakistani podcasters regarding state-sponsored terrorism and the events surrounding Osama bin Laden’s elimination.
Popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia joined the discussion with Shezad Zias Sheikh from Pakistan, holding up a photo of bin Laden alongside a viral image depicting Pakistani military officers at the funeral of a terrorist who was killed during Operation Sindoah.
At this funeral, the presence of Hafiz Abdul Rauf—brother to Masood Azhar, a globally designated terrorist and leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed—highlighted the ongoing military connections in Pakistan.
While holding the bin Laden photo, Allahbadia pointed out to Morgan and the Pakistani guests, “He was found just 800 meters from a military base in Pakistan. That’s the face everyone recognizes.”
He then displayed the second image, stating, “This is the face recognized in India. This individual is an undesignated terrorist who has garnered admiration from the Pakistani army, though that’s a narrative typically ignored by Pakistanis.”
“We send vaccines, philosophies, engineers, and leaders to the world. That’s why our economy far surpasses Pakistan’s,” he added.
Osama bin Laden, founder of al-Qaeda and the mastermind behind 9/11, was killed in a covert operation by U.S. forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
In defense of Pakistani leaders regarding bin Laden’s safe house, Sheikh argued that terrorists had been concealed from the Pakistani intelligence agency in Abbottabad prior to being ousted by U.S. forces in 2011.
Morgan responded, “What you just said is completely absurd.”
He continued, “Osama bin Laden was living just meters away from one of Pakistan’s primary military bases. If your intelligence didn’t know he was there, then they might be the worst in military history.”
When a Pakistani podcaster attempted to involve Mossad and the American CIA in the discussion, Morgan retorted, “You literally live down the road from one of your largest bases… Didn’t anyone know he was living next door?”
