UPDATED ON:
Sunday, July 13, 2008
05:02 Mecca time, 02:02 GMT
 
News CENTRAL/S. ASIA
Pakistan blocks US bin Laden hunt

Qureshi said his government will block any foreign military operation in Pakistan [AFP]

Pakistan's foreign minister has ruled out allowing military personnel from the United States, or any other foreign country, in Pakistan to hunt for Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda.

Mahmoud Qureshi said on Saturday that the country's new government had not permitted any such operation in the regions bordering Afghanistan and never would. 

Bin Laden is widely believed to be hiding somewhere in the Afghan-Pakistan border region.

"Our government's policy is that our troops, paramilitary forces and our regular forces are deployed in sufficient numbers. They are capable of taking action there. And any foreign intrusion would be counter-productive," Qureshi told the Associated Press news agency.

"People will not accept it. Questions of sovereignty come in."

Qureshi acknowledged that "there are some infiltrations" still occurring, but he said no covert US military operations to catch al-Qaeda figures, Taliban members or any other suspected fighters, had been staged.

"There are none," he said.

The new Pakistani government's pursuit of peace deals with tribal groups in the region has been highly criticised in Washington. 

However, Qureshi had reassured Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, at a meeting held on Friday that his government was doing everything it can to combat lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have regularly exchanged criticism of each others efforts in fighting armed groups operating along their long, remote, mountainous border.

Qureshi described Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts as a "grassroots" approach.

 Source: Agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 4
 
mark plumb
Afghanistan
13/07/2008
bin laden
bin liner was killed in 2001 whilst he was hiding in the tora bora caves

Zecchetti
United Kingdom
14/07/2008
Real proof?
Is there any definitive evidence that Bin Laden was responsible for 9/11?

Alex
United States
14/07/2008
bin laden
If NATO or US troops enter Pakistan a battle would engulf the western tribal region that may topple the new Pakistani government. Handing nukes to extremest. Pakistan is in a hard place, Do nothing and the extremest gain power and harm Pakistani US relations. Use Pakistani troops to attack Taliban positions and win favor with the US and the Taliban gain power. Allow foreign troops to enter and a weak government may be ousted. Cut ISI funding then dismantle most Taliban friendly Pakistani in

Alijan
Pakistan
15/07/2008
Osama is a creation of the US and is not in Pakistan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKDYZfEbEow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UGXVic15ho&feature=related In my opinion, the US had created Osama Bin Laden, just as it has created Baitullah Masood to interfere in the affairs of Pakistan and create instablity in the region. It is election year and the Bush admin want McCain to takeover, thus it shouldnt be surprizing if the allied US forces attack Pakistans North West Borders and produce the infamous Bin Laden. We're all scapegoats

 
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