OBL in Chitral

Read story at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/07/eveningnews/main3243560.shtml?source=search_story#ccmm

I am so against drawingroom journos who can't help themselves. Here is my original response which had to be curtailed to 1500 words:

My problem is with the basic facts of the story. Where did the "author" get the idea that Chitral is a rugged country with Tribals governing their land with an ancient code of hospitality etc.? Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The author of this report does not have any idea of the diversity of Pakistani population, their customs, or even the Pakistani terrain.
Chitralis are a different melieu from tribal Pukhtoons (of Waziristan, Tirah, even urban from Peshawarites) who have alledgely hosted Bin Laden at various times in the past; neither are they bound by the code of "Pukhtoonwali." Their history is different from the rest of Pakistan, and their chemistry, their habits, their customs, their approach to religion and issues of security have always been quite at variance with the more aggressive Pukhtoons.
Characterized usually as the most peaceful, fun-loving, romantic people of the North, they have faithfully followed the laws of the land, dating back to the colonial era. It is almost baffling that while other ethnicities, just beyond the Lowari Pass and Arandu engaged in the militant struggle against Soviets and Americans, as a perceived "Muslim cause," Chitralis have remained largely aloof and unimpressed by the "Jihad" next door. You could say the mullahs could not hoodwink them.
Ironically, they have hosted the Afghan refugees for three decades, and were frequent targets of heavy, relentless bombing of the Soviet Airforce (that I witnessed) during the 80's and early 90's. Yet they seem to have a clear understanding of the game that was played by the "super powers" and their boy-toys, the mujahedeen or Taliban. They always seemed to know who was pulling the strings.
The long and short of it is, Osama Bin Laden would think many times before he heads in that direction. While Chitralis may not jump over each other to host him or hand him to the CIA, they would dutifully present him to the Pakistani government, no matter who is in power.
Interestingly, if Benazir is "installed" as the next premier of the country, OBL will have to steer clear of "Kashkar" since the Kashkaris have forty years of loyalty to her late father, ZAB, a leader with a very modern, secular, pro-West approach to all issues.