How Osama bin Laden Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline
How the contributions of Osama bin Laden continue to shape the world today.
Osama bin Laden, a Saudi Arabian-born founder and leader of al-Qaeda, was a key figure in the rise of radical Islamic terrorism. He fought against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and later opposed the United States' foreign policy in the Middle East. Bin Laden declared war on the U.S. in 1996 and masterminded numerous attacks, most notably the September 11 attacks in 2001. His actions led to the U.S.-led War on Terror, significantly reshaping global geopolitics and security measures.
2002: Published Letter to the American People
In his Letter to the American People published in 2002, Bin Laden described the formation of the Israeli state as "a crime which must be erased" and demanded the withdrawal of U.S. personnel from the Arabian Peninsula and Muslim lands.
2006: Alleged Imprisonment by ISI
In 2006, according to Seymour Hersh, Osama bin Laden was allegedly a prisoner of the ISI at the Abbottabad compound.
June 2011: U.S. Drops Criminal Charges Against Bin Laden
In June 2011, U.S. federal prosecutors officially dropped all criminal charges against Osama bin Laden following his death.
June 2011: Ayman al-Zawahiri Succeeded Bin Laden
On June 16, 2011, Ayman al-Zawahiri succeeded Osama bin Laden as the leader of al-Qaeda.
February 2012: Demolition of Bin Laden's Compound
In February 2012, Pakistani authorities demolished Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad to prevent it from becoming a neo-Islamist shrine.
March 2012: Report on Bin Laden's Movements in Pakistan
In March 2012, the Pakistani newspaper Dawn acquired a report detailing Osama bin Laden's movements while living underground in Pakistan, based on interrogation of his three surviving wives.
February 2013: Plans for an Amusement Park on Compound Site
In February 2013, Pakistan announced plans to build an amusement park on the area of Osama bin Laden's former hideout.
2014: Report of ISI Director General's Knowledge
In 2014, Carlotta Gall reported that ISI Director General Ahmad Shuja Pasha knew of Bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad.
2015: Hersh's Assertion of Bin Laden as ISI Prisoner
In 2015, Seymour M. Hersh asserted that Osama bin Laden had been a prisoner of the ISI at the Abbottabad compound since 2006, and that Pasha knew of the U.S. mission in advance.
2019: No Direct Evidence of Pakistani Knowledge
As of 2019, Coll states there is no direct evidence showing Pakistani knowledge of Bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad.
2019: Imran Khan's Claim About Pakistani Intelligence
In 2019, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed that Pakistani intelligence led the CIA to Osama bin Laden.
June 2020: Imran Khan's Denouncement and Praise of Bin Laden
During a Pakistani parliament session in June 2020, Imran Khan denounced Osama bin Laden's killing, calling it "an embarrassing moment," and praised Bin Laden as a "Shaheed (martyr)."
November 2023: Controversy Over Bin Laden's "Letter to the American People"
In November 2023, during the Gaza war, Osama bin Laden's 2002 "Letter to the American People" sparked controversy after TikTok users expressed sympathy with its statements, leading to its removal from The Guardian's website.
