Photographs: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters
America's Operation Geronimo that killed Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, thrust Abbottabad into global notoriety. After being under intense media glare for over 10 days now, residents of this garrison town, located 80 km from Islamabad, hope that normalcy returns soon. Here's a sneak peek into Abbottabad.
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Coverage: US hunts down Osama bin Laden
While large parts of Pakistan saw processions mourning the death of bin Laden, 38-year-old Suhail Nasir could care little. "Osama is not my problem. I don't care if he died here. I can't postpone my wedding because of his death," said Nasir, all set to tie the knot.
Nasir and his family have festooned their home with hundreds of coloured lights as the wedding festivities began with gusto....
Coverage: US hunts down Osama bin Laden
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters
The Nasir family's indifference is widely reflected across Abbotabad. Today, most in the neighbourhood have become accustomed to the world media camping on their doorstep and security forces struggling to impose order in the town.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters
But neighbours who lived unwittingly alongside bin Laden for up to five years still struggle to believe the official version of events and local conspiracy theories of American machinations have festered.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters
Fed up for prying journalists,a vednor requests not to be photographed while selling prayer caps on the streets of Abbottabad.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters
After staying indoors for days after the raid, the common man is back to business. This shopkeeper stands in front of dressed mannequins while awaiting customers.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Erik de Castro/Reuters
A girl grazes her sheep near the compound where al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters
The children in the town wonder what the media frenzy is all about. Nine-year-old Shah Rahman, who sells cooked corn on the streets, does not seem to mind the chaos. Taking a break from his routine he poses for shutterbugs in Abbottabad's market.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters
Undeterred by the presence of Pakistani soldiers, a boy plays in a vegetable field near bin Laden's compound.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters
Boys herd sheep past bin Laden's compound.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters
A vendor pushes his cart of vegetables past a wall painted with the misspelled words 'Bin Ladan Toun' (Bin Laden's town).
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Erik de Castr/Reuters
A woman harvests wheat stalks in a village near Abbottabad.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Reuters
A woman purchases a balloon for her child on the streets of Abbottabad.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Reuters
A girl holds a baby near the compound where al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Eight-year-old Adeel plays with a tennis ball in front of bin Laden's compound.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Erik de Castro/Reuters
Workers carry on their head basins containing mixed concrete for house construction near bin Laden's mansion.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters
Residents read newspapers while sitting near bin Laden's compound.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
Photographs: Erik de Castro/Reuters
Residents walk past a policeman guarding bin Laden's compound. The manision in which the Al Qaeda leader lived may be demolished by the Pakistan Army to ensure that it does not become a sacred building for jihadis.
A day in the life of Osama's neighbours
In a market, where activists of Pakistan's largest religious party Jamaat-e-Islami shouted slogans against America and set fire to tyres a few days, people are gathered to buy vegetables and other household items -- a sign that life is returning to normal in Abbottabad.
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