Osama not in Pak., says Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 24. The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, today said he did not believe that Osama bin Laden had slipped into Pakistan.

``To the best of my knowledge, Osama has not crossed into Pakistan and I don't know about his whereabouts,'' Gen. Musharraf told presspersons after a meeting with a European Union delegation.

Pakistan had beefed up security along the Afghanistan border in order to prevent Osama or his chief lieutenants from eluding the U.S.-led coalition dragnet. ``We have also sought the cooperation of tribal leaders to ensure that Osama does not sneak into the country,'' he said.

Meanwhile, a senior militia commander in Jalalabad in Afghanistan today said he believed Osama bin Laden was nearby, moving at night on horseback and sleeping in caves during the day.

Hazrat Ali, a senior anti-Taliban militia commander, said he had received reports from trusted informants that Osama was seen at an Al-Qaeda and Taliban base called Tora Bora, high in the mountains, as recently as three days ago.

- AP

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