Posted on 06/17/2004 11:16:30 PM PDT by AdmSmith
Commander: Osama Probably Not in Pakistan Region
Tue Oct 19, 2004
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) is unlikely to be hiding in Pakistan's tribal region near the Afghan border, the top military commander in the area said on Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Safdar Hussain, military commander for northwestern Pakistan, said the strong presence of security forces in the rugged tribal region and on the border had made it hard for Washington's most wanted man to sneak into Pakistan.
"The way the army is deployed, there is nothing beyond my eyes and ears," he told reporters in the main northwestern city of Peshawar.
"I have a very good surveillance system ... I can say he (bin Laden) is not here."
A large number of al Qaeda men fled to Pakistan after U.S.-led forces launched a hunt in Afghanistan (news - web sites) for them following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, prompting U.S. officials to believe that their leader bin Laden might be hiding in the border region of the two countries.
The U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, Lieutenant-General David Barno, told Reuters last month Bin Laden and other senior al Qaeda figures were most likely to be hiding in Pakistan where they could be well protected by their foreign fighters in the remote tribal region.
Hundreds of al Qaeda fighters, including Chechens, Uzbeks and Arabs, are believed to be hiding in the South Waziristan tribal region.
Hussain said middle-ranking al Qaeda officials, like Tahir Yuldashev, leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, might be among the foreign fighters holed up in the rugged region but dismissed the possibility Bin Laden was there.
"There is no area which has not been swept through by us. Had he been there ... I would have gotten him by now."
South Waziristan has been the scene of fierce clashes between the security forces and al Qaeda-linked militants in recent months.
Hussain said at least 246 militants, including 100 foreigners, had been killed and more than 550 had been arrested since March. He said about 171 security forces had been killed in these clashes.
Pakistan has deployed more than 70,000 troops in its tribal belt since it joined U.S.-led war on terror in 2001, which was prompted by the Sept 11 U.S. attacks blamed on al Qaeda.
Meanwhile, three Pakistani soldiers were killed and three others were wounded when al Qaeda-linked militants attacked a military convoy in South Waziristan Tuesday.
A military spokesman said troops came under fire in Spinkay Raghzai, the area where a local al Qaeda-linked militant commander, Abdullah Mehsud, is believed to be hiding.
He said the troops also returned the fire but did not have details of casualties from the other side.
Pakistani authorities have vowed to hunt down Abdullah, a former Guantanamo Bay inmate who masterminded the abduction of two Chinese engineers working on a dam in the area on Oct. 9.
One of the hostages was killed after army commandos launched a rescue operation last week.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=574&e=7&u=/nm/20041019/wl_nm/security_pakistan_osama_dc
" "The way the army is deployed, there is nothing beyond my eyes and ears," he told reporters in the main northwestern city of Peshawar.
"I have a very good surveillance system ... I can say he (bin Laden) is not here." "
Famous last words?
In my best Cheech and Chong voice.
Knock Knock.....
Whose there?
Osama man.
Osama isn't here man.
Lol.
See "Conflict with Iran is Inevitable" for some info on Zarqawi
http://www.regimechangeiran.com/
Thanks for the ping ADM.....one day I hope we get the chance to retire this thread...after some big captures.
Sure, and every day that passes we get closer to that day ;-)
50 Mega bucks is attracting a lot of people:
http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=81554
Maj. Scott Nelson, a U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, says the coalition receives daily tips on bin Laden's whereabouts from Afghans and Pakistanis, ranging from first-person sightings in the mountainous border region to someone who talked to someone who talked to someone who saw the fugitive.
"There's a tendency for people to embellish these things," says Nelson, adding that following up every lead is a painstaking procedure.
Yet, Nelson says the coalition is getting closer to nabbing their man.
"His routine is going to give him away," he insists. "Somebody is going to turn him in."
WHAT!! One more case of Bush taking his eye off the ball.
Oct. is national sarcastic awareness month
Is this the end of this thread?
http://www.dawn.com/2004/11/01/welcome.htm
Security forces raid apartment complex in Karachi: KARACHI, Nov 01:
Security forces, backed by at least one helicopter, raided an apartment complex in Karachi today, and intelligence officials said they could be trying to capture an important Al Qaeda figure. Government and security officials refused to comment after witnesses saw a military helicopter hovering over apartment buildings under construction in Gulistan-e-Johar. Troops cordoned off the area and prevented people from entering. An intelligence source, who declined to be identified, said the raid could be aimed at capturing an important al Qaeda figure. He refused to give further details. (Reuters) (Posted @ 23:40 PST)
WOW! That would be great news.
Hope so!
--Boot Hill
Only if it's the end of terrorism. Thanks for keeping us posted. I'm praying that it is Bin Laden and/or Al Zawahiri, and that it does not become public knowledge until after the election.
"and that it does not become public knowledge until after the election."
Why? Though it's a bit late now for nightly news. It could only help Bush
I wonder if the Al Qaeda "militants" will be "terrorists" starting NOvember 3rd???
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