SIX and a half years after the lethal raid on Abbottabad, former US president Barack Obama has come up with a statement that vindicates the position maintained by Pakistan: the latter did not know the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden until he was killed by American SEALs in action on May 2, 2011. Mr Obama made this remark during an interview in India, saying his government had no evidence that proved Islamabad was aware of Bin Laden living in a location where the Pakistan Army has a huge presence. The former president`s words are by far the biggest snub to experts who were convinced that Pakistan had a hand in hiding Washington`s most high-profile target in the US-led `war on terror`. But while it is a real setback to these analysts, it will surely not be the end of the refrain that aims to paint the Saudi militant spending long years in this country as a guest. In fact, there could be increasing focus on the incompetency of the Pakistani administration in allowing an extremely dangerous suspect to stay in the country and operate undisturbed from here for many years. Hence, there is no room for complacency.

There are many more challenges that will require Islamabad to be on its toes. The follow-up questions during the very interview in which Mr Obama admitted to there being no proof of Pakistan`s involvement in the Bin Laden affair did provide new angles.

With yet another round of questions about the May 2011 raid and the events surrounding it in the offing, what is required by the authorities and the diplomats representing this country is some def t and cool handling, now that they appear to have a clean chit from the former US president. Most crucially, the country should be able to assert strongly that, just as it didn`t hide the prime `war on terror` suspect then, it has nothing to hide now. This is where the unveiling of an earnest discussion on the report compiled by the Abbottabad Commission could come in useful. It is unfortunate that in the tradition of earlier inquiry reports on some of the most significant events in this country`s history, the Abbottabad Commission probe has officially not seen the light of day. It can greatly help in taking Pakistan`s case forward. Let no fear come in the way of a natural desire to know the truth.