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New Delhi, May 2 (ANI): German Ambassador to India Thomas Matussek on Monday expressed gratification over killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by the US forces in Pakistan.

“We are very glad that one of the figureheads of international terrorism is not among us anymore. I’m not belittling movement of international terrorism, but it’s important to go for the head of snake,” Thomas Matussek told Asian News International (ANI).

The German envoy further hoped that Osama’s followers would be able to modify their ways after his killing.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier today said Osama’s killing was’good news’, but warned that the ‘fight against terrorism’ is far from over.

Germany, which is playing a major role in NATO operations in neighboring Afghanistan, has been critical of the terror sanctuaries operating from Pakistan.

Responding to a question on whether the international community should concertedly go all out after safe havens operating from Pakistan, the German envoy said the international community should go after terrorists wherever they are taking refuge and bring them to justice.

“It is not secret that there are mountainous areas in Pakistan, which used to be hide out for the terrorists. So, I think its good news if we see one goes after them even in the so called tribal areas,” said Thomas Matussek.

He, however, cautioned the international community from putting too much pressure on Pakistan, saying if we put too much pressure there is a risk of state to implode.

When asked whether Osama’s killing is going to hasten the draw down of foreign forces from Afghanistan, Matussek replied that Germany is in Afghanistan for a long haul.

It is believed that US, which is commencing the exit from July this year may hasten the process after Osama’s killing, US has one lakh soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan.

NATO, however, is not favoring early withdrawal.

The German envoy said NATO will remain in Afghanistan for a long haul.

“I can assure you that we will engage with Afghanistan in a very long haul, we hope many more good news comes out of this area, I don’t think it will hasten our withdrawal, we decide together with the Afghan Government when the time is right, when theAfghan Government handles general security on its own,” said Matussek.

“Unfortunately, we are still far away from that point,” he added.

The United States Government earlier today informed that Osama bin laden had been killed by security forces somewhere ‘deep inside Pakistan’.

Osama, 54, who created and funded the Al-Qaeda terror network, was accused of being behind a number of atrocities, including the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001.

He was suspected of playing large roles in the 1998 bombings of two US Embassies in Africa and the attack on the USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden in October 2000. (ANI)