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‘Osama evaded Pakistani raid’

KABUL: A local official in eastern Afghanistan says he has received credible reports that Osama bin Laden escaped the recent Pakistani operation to catch him.

Speaking to the BBC, a district governor said he passed the details to Afghan intelligence staff. It comes amid reports of stepped-up American military operations aimed at capturing al-Qaeda’s leader. Osama is believed to be hiding in the mountainous border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Haji Abdullah, the governor of Pachir-Agam district in Nangarhar province, said he heard the report about al-Qaeda’s leader three days ago. He said he had met a former member of the Taliban who had received a fax referring to "the Sheikh", the term often used for Osama Bin Laden by his supporters.

The fax reportedly said the Sheikh was alive and well and that he had escaped a recent attempt by Pakistani forces to catch him on their side of the border. However, the governor rejected recent reports that American forces are focusing on the Tora Bora hills, which overlook his compound, in their search for Osama.

There is no sign of any US activity in these rugged hills and peaks. But local residents and officials in the nearby district of Chaprihar said there had been a build-up of American forces in the area earlier this week and that some had stayed for several days.

Pakistan offers to share nuke know-how with Nigeria

ABUJA (Nigeria) - Pakistan's top military official on Wednesday offered to share unspecified military assistance and nuclear power with Nigeria's armed forces, the defence ministry said.

General Muhammad Aziz Khan, chairman of Pakistan's joint chiefs of staff, told Nigerian defence minister Rabiu Kwankwaso that Pakistan was 'working out the dynamics' to help Nigeria's armed forces 'strengthen its military capability and to acquire nuclear power', Nigeria's defence ministry said in a statement issued late on Wednesday.

The communique pointed out that Pakistan has nuclear-tipped missiles, but did not say whether Pakistan is offering such technology or if Nigeria seeks such weapons.

Nigeria's defence minister urged intensified cooperation between the two countries, adding Nigeria was capable of helping Pakistan train its soldiers, if needed, the statement said.

Gen Khan, who was in Nigeria's capital Abuja on a scheduled visit, explained to his counterparts that 'Pakistan had to take its destiny into its own hands to become a nuclear state because of the regular threats posed by hostile neighbours with special reference to the Kashmir conflict', the statement said.

One of Pakistan's top nuclear scientists admitted last month that he sold nuclear technology to Iran, as well as North Korea and Libya -- all nations on the US list of terrorism sponsors.

Nigeria is not at war or under any known threat from other countries. Under former army dictators, Nigeria's military was viewed as an international pariah for ruthlessly suppressing dissent. Involvement in African peace missions since elections restored civilian rule in 1999 has helped repair its image abroad. -- AP

http://www.straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/latest/story/0%2C4390%2C238307%2C00.html

Nigeria blows Pak cover on N-sale

AP[ THURSDAY, MARCH 04, 2004 10:21:52 AM ]

ABUJA: Pakistan's top military official has offered to share unspecified military assistance and "nuclear power" with Nigeria's armed forces, the defence ministry said.

Pak has offered to give military assistance to Nigeria.

Gen. Muhammad Aziz Khan, chairman of Pakistan's joint chiefs of staff, told Nigerian defence minister Rabiu Kwankwaso that Pakistan was " working out the dynamics " to help Nigeria's armed forces "to strengthen its military capability and to acquire nuclear power," Nigeria's defence ministry said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The communiqué pointed out that Pakistan has nuclear-tipped missiles, but did not say whether Pakistan is offering such technology or if Nigeria seeks such weapons.

Nigeria's defence minister urged intensified cooperation between the two countries, adding Nigeria was capable of helping Pakistan train its soldiers, if needed, the statement said.

Khan, who was in Nigeria's capital Abuja on a scheduled visit, explained to his counterparts that "Pakistan had to take its destiny into its own hands to become a nuclear state because of the regular threats posed by hostile neighbours," the statement said.

The communiqué did not elaborate and officials of Nigeria's presidency and defence ministry did not answer their phones.

The announcement came less than two months after Nigeria's vice presidency announced that North Korea agreed to share missile technology with Nigeria, an offer that was subsequently denied by North Korean officials and downplayed by a spokeswoman to Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/536038.cms