This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Navy's irregular warfare (IW) and counterterrorism (CT) operations. News reports about the May 1, 2011, U.S. military operation in Pakistan that killed Osama Bin Laden state that the operation was carried out by a team of 20 to 25 Navy special operations forces, known as SEALs, specifically an elite unit known as Seal Team 6.

This report discusses issues and questions related to the killing of Osama bin Laden (OBL), which are multifaceted and may have operational, regional, and policy implications. Operational policy issues include congressional notification, legal considerations, and current and future military activities.

This report summarizes important recent developments in Pakistan and in Pakistan-U.S. relations. These include high-profile political assassinations earlier in 2011, the Raymond Davis affair involving a CIA operative accused of murder in the city of Lahore, and the May killing of Osama bin Laden in the military cantonment city of Abbottabad, among others. Obama Administration engagement with Pakistan has been seriously disrupted by recent events. A brief analysis of the current state of Pakistan-U.S. relations illuminates the main areas of contention and uncertainty. Vital U.S. interests related to links between Pakistan and indigenous American terrorism, Islamist militancy in Pakistan and Islamabad's policies toward the Afghan insurgency, Pakistan's relations with historic rival India, nuclear weapons proliferation and security, and the troubled status of Pakistan's domestic setting are reviewed. Ongoing human rights concerns are briefly summarized, and the report closes with discussion of U.S. foreign assistance to Pakistan.

Recording of Badshahi Khan, a farmer, reciting "King Zulqarneen," in the Yasin dialect. This is a popular story that followed Islam to the area, and the King represents a barrier from the apocalypse.

Recording of Hasil Murad reciting "Dana Wazir," a popular story in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski.

Transcription, translation and linguistic analysis of Gul Nasreen reciting "Limpi Kisar," a popular story in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski. In this popular story Limpi Kisar was married to a woman, and she was stolen on their wedding day by an ogre. He travels up mountains to get his wife back. Transcription done in Burushaski with translations and analysis in English.

Transcription of Gul Nasreen reciting "Limpi Kisar," a popular story in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski. In this popular story Limpi Kisar was married to a woman, and she was stolen on their wedding day by an ogre. He travels up mountains to get his wife back. Transcription done in Burushaski with translations in English.

Transcription of Laila Khan reciting "A Black and White Thread Ball" in the Hunza dialect. In this popular story a young shepherd abandons his duties in order to court a girl who was born out of gold and silver to poor parents. Transcription done in Burushaski with translations in English.

Transcription of the recording of Laila Khan, a Hunza Burushaski speaker, reciting the story of "Shari Shaskulum Shari bano" ('Shari Bano of Fairyland'), a popular story, with translations in English.

Recording of Safdar Jan reciting "A Poet's Life," a poem in the Yasin dialect of Burushaski.

A reciting of "A Black and White Thread Ball" by Laila Khan, a housewife, in the Hunza dialect. In this popular story a young shepherd abandons his duties in order to court a girl who was born out of gold and silver to poor parents.

Recording of Namak Alam reciting "Shuwa wau," in the Yasin dialect. This is a popular story that shows the importance of good morals in life.

A recording of Pari Nimo reciting a Historical narrative and poem about the Misgar valley in the Hunza dialect. “Misgar Valley” explains a little bit about who came to Misgar from Baltit.

Recording of Gul Nasreen and Farida Bibi discussing mixed riddles in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of Laila Khan reciting a series of situational jokes in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski.

A recording of Laila Khan reciting the story “Shari Bano from Fairyland,” in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski. In this popular story, a prince is born the seventh son. He finds a set of beautiful dressed one day on a clothesline, and decides to wait for the wearers to return, and see their beauty. The owners are actually fairies whom he follows, but they scorn him for his human ugliness.

A recording of Dawar Muneeb reciting “The Juniper Tree of Boyo,” in the Hunza dialect. This story tells of a Big Juniper Tree before Islam came to the region. Under the tree lived creatures that were a mix of a puppy and a penguin, and they were fed to bring good luck to families. When people would cut the tree, it was thought that the tree would take revenge, either by killing the criminal, or by driving them crazy.

Recording of Pari Nimo reciting a historical narrative through a poem in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of Laila Khan reciting "Baadil Jamaal," a popular story for the Burushos. The recording was done in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of Laila Khanum discussing the names of the months in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski.

Recording of Gul Nasreen reciting "Limpi Kisar," a popular story in the Hunza dialect of Burushaski. In this popular story Limpi Kisar was married to a woman, and she was stolen on their wedding day by an ogre. He travels up mountains to get his wife back.

This report discusses Pakistan's nuclear proliferation and security issues. It discusses the steps that could enable Pakistan to undertake both quantitative and qualitative improvements to its nuclear arsenal. Whether and to what extent Pakistan's current expansion of its nuclear weapons-related facilities is a response to the 2008 U.S.-India nuclear cooperation agreement is unclear.

This report summarizes important recent developments in Pakistan and in Pakistan-U.S. relations. These include high-profile political assassinations in early 2011; the Raymond Davis affair involving a CIA operative accused of murder in the city of Lahore; and the May killing of Osama bin Laden in the city of Abbottabad, among others. The report also summarizes key issues in the bilateral relationship.

In a security alliance since 2004 and "strategic partners" since 2006, the United States and Pakistan for decades experienced major shifts in the nature and tone of their relations. In the post- 9/11 period, assisting in the creation of a more stable, democratic, and prosperous Pakistan actively combating religious militancy has been among the most important U.S. foreign policy efforts. Pakistan is among the leading recipients of U.S. aid in the post-9/11 period, having been appropriated about $24 billion in assistance and military reimbursements since 2001. FY2013 legislation in the 112th Congress would cut U.S. assistance funding significantly from both the levels requested by the Administration and from those Congress approved for FY2012. Provisions also would introduce more rigorous restrictions and certification requirements on such aid. With anti-American sentiments and xenophobic conspiracy theories rife among ordinary Pakistanis, persistent economic travails and a precarious political setting combine to present serious challenges to U.S. decision makers.