Osama in Pak.?

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 16 The Iran Radio has claimed that the Saudi dissident, Osama bin Laden, has probably fled from Afghanistan to Pakistan. However, authorities in Pakistan promptly denied it as a `baseless' report and asserted that the security on the Afghan border had been stepped up to ensure that illegal persons did not cross the border.

``Osama bin Laden has most likely abandoned Afghanistan for the Manatiq-e Azad (free areas) of Pakistan to save his life,'' the Iran Radio, quoting an informed source said.

Maj. Gen. Rashid Quereshi, Press Secretary to the Pakistan President, told reporters at a Foreign Office briefing that the vigil along the 2500-km border with Afghanistan had been stepped up.

He denied reports that tanks had been moved to the border.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Vajpayee seeks consensus on POTO
Next     : Doha declaration positive for India