Afghan village swears by bin Laden

Five years after the September 11 attacks on the continental United States, the most publicised manhunt in history has drawn a blank - al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden remains at large. Many suspect that bin Laden is hiding somewhere in the lawless border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

However more than 100-thousand U.S., Afghan and Pakistani forces stretched along the frontier, hi-tech listening posts, satellite imagery, unmanned spy planes, not to mention a 25 (m) million US dollar bounty.

About 150 kilometres (93 miles) north of Peshawar lies the small village of Tazagram, with a Pashtu-speaking population of just a few thousand.

This is a religiously conservative area dominated by tribal traditions of honour and hospitality.

It lies close to Damadola, a village where an air strike targeted al Qaeda number two Ayman al Zawahri at the start of this year.

The village is typical of many in the area - agriculture is the mainstay of the local economy, incomes are low and life is hard.

Lying around 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) from the Afghan border, the village has been sending its men to fight since the time of the Russian invasion.

Villagers say that after September 11, more than one hundred of their men went answered a call to fight with the Taliban government against the US-led effort to topple it.

Dozens never returned - missing, presumed dead. One of those to make it back was Usman Ghani and five years on, he hasn't forgiven those that overthrew Afghanistan's Taliban regime.

"The Coalition forces and Northern Alliance are our out-and-out enemies," he said. "We will prepare ourselves and our children for revenge until our last breath and until the Judgment Day."

After five years on the run, Bin Laden's popularity in this region remains as high as ever, and many consider him a hero say he would be a welcome guest in their houses.

Humayun Khan, a villager, said he "would feel privileged" if bin Laden were to come and stay bin his house.

"There is no way that any one here would hand over Osama for money," said Khan. "If any one does this he would not be able to live here anymore."

Ajjab Khan left for 'Jihad', or 'Holy War', in Afghanistan in the wake of the events of September 11.

He hasn’t returned and is presumed dead. His son Mohammad hardly remembers him but his father Habib Khan does.

"The Americans have come to Afghanistan and are trying to destroy the Muslims," said Khan. "We hear about Osama and Mullah Omar and our women give money to help out the Muslims who are being killed for no reason in Afghanistan."

He hopes that one day Ajjab will return, but remains proud of what his son set out to do.

Things don't seem to have changed much in the past five years in this region, and bin Laden can still count on the support of the local people.

Afghan officials allege that areas of Pakistan like this are a sanctuary for Taliban rebel leaders and that they are allowed to recruit from Islamic schools.

Bureau Report