[Excerpt]
LAHORE: Despite a surge in arrests of Al Qaeda suspects, investigators still had not found the trail of their main target, Osama Bin Laden, Los Angeles Times quoted a senior Pakistani anti-terrorism official as saying on Monday.
The paper reported that Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema, head of the National Crisis Management Cell at the Interior Ministry, said during an interview last week, "You can only be sure you're closing in on someone when you at least have a hint of his whereabouts. With regard to Osama Bin Laden, I would say that we are not getting any substantial leads as yet."
According to the report, Cheema said Pakistan was "working hand in glove with the US government" in a search that had captured more than a dozen suspects in the last two weeks. Moreover, Pakistani intelligence sources say FBI agents are playing a crucial role in tracking suspects by intercepting cell phone calls and other actions, the paper said.
One source familiar with the investigation said Washington had stepped up pressure on Pakistani authorities to turn their latest leads into the capture of more high-level targets before the US presidential election in November.
Another source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "The next month and a half is absolutely crucial. The way the Americans are pressuring Pakistan, they want Osama Bin Laden", the report states.
Bush administration officials have denied US media reports that the United States was pressuring Pakistan to capture or kill Bin Laden and other Al Qaeda fugitives before the election.
"Pakistan claims Bin Laden trail still Cold"
===
Whether UBL IS DEAD, in a hidey-hole or captured; his evil spirit lives on via jihad. -Cindy