US-Pakistani Theater

The operation could not have happened without Pakistani foreknowledge and acquiescence. Likely (but not necessarily) they even knew who the target was. They may even have provided the intelligence. But for domestic reasons, they don't want to appear to have played a role. They're now being criticized in the US media because, it's asserted, they must have known he was there and not told the US. Some of those doing the criticizing have thought through everything I just wrote and by criticizing are doing their propaganda part to make Pakistan seem more antagonistic to the US, as an underhanded favor to the Pakistani government that needs to assert its independence for a domestic audience.

Now, it's also quite possible that the Pakistani government (or SOME aspects of the Pakistani government) knoew where he was for a long time and kept quiet about it. And raising that question is legitimate. But there is more here than usually meets the eyes and ears.