Pakistani Interior Minister Refutes Reports That Bin Laden Is Hiding In Pakistan

Pakistani interior minister Moinuddin Haider has refuted the assertions by defense minister of the new Afghan administration Mohammad Kasim Fahim that Osama bin Laden is hiding in Pakistan. Speaking on Saturday in Lahore (the capital of the Punjab province) Haider called such assertions unfounded speculations. According to him, the troops and border guards placed at the border with Afghanistan were in the state of constant readiness and performed their functions well. Apart from that, upon an agreement with Pashtun tribal leaders, the latter arrest and transfer to federal troops Al-Qaida foreign mercenaries who are trying to cross the Pakistani border. The same fate awaits bin Laden, if he tries to cross the border, the interior minister stressed.