By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-966545.mp3
Buffalo, NY – The local Muslim community is celebrating the news that Osama bin Laden is dead.
Dr. Khalid Qazi, president of the local Muslim Public Affairs Council. Qazi said the reaction he is hearing in the Muslim community is "absolute delight."
He said bin Laden is one person every single Muslim wanted captured dead or alive because he was responsible for the murder of so many people worldwide. Qazi said his death deals a serious blow to al-Qaeda recruitment efforts.
"The fact remains that he still was an inspiration for the type of people who were following him and, therefore, it was absolutely important to eliminate him because that inspiration had to be totally dismantled and destroyed," said Qazi.
But Qazi agrees with elected leaders that the U.S. and the rest of the world can not let down their guard. Some of the key leaders in al-Qaeda are still at large and planning attacks.
Qazi said capturing them will take the continued pursuit of the United States. And he said Pakistan's cooperation in those efforts is crucial.
"The question in our minds is are they cooperating to the extent we want them," said Qazi. "That would be debatable because my understanding is there are certain interests in Pakistan that we have not always taken seriously."
He added, "And given the threats Pakistan has on its eastern borders from India, we haven't taken them seriously either, therefore, Pakistan has its own national interests they're probably concerned about."
Dr. Qazi said recognizing Pakistan's need to protect its own security will make them a more effective partner in U.S. counter-terrorism efforts.