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Pakistan denies authorities received bin Laden`s son
Islamabad, Nov 05: Pakistan today denied a weekend report that Iran had handed its authorities a son of al-Qaeda head Osama bin Laden.
Islamabad, Nov 05: Pakistan today denied a weekend report that Iran had handed its authorities a son of al-Qaeda head Osama bin Laden.
"It's not correct. That's all there is to say," brigadier Javed Cheema told a news agency. The financial times of London reported over the weekend that one of bin Laden's sons had crossed the border from Afghanistan and was handed over to either the Saudi or Pakistani authorities, quoting an unnamed Iranian official.
Iran's government then confirmed that its security forces had unwittingly arrested bin Laden's son and sent him back to Pakistan, but later backtracked. Although accused by Washington of harbouring some al-Qaeda members, Iran has insisted it has arrested and promptly extradited some 250 members of the network.
Hundreds of al-Qaeda fugitives are believed by foreign intelligence officials to be hiding out in Pakistan, in remote western areas close to the porous border with Afghanistan, as well as cities in the east and south. Investigators believe many are harboured by local Islamic militants, some of whom trained with al-Qaeda fighters at camps in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime.
More than 422 al-Qaeda suspects including top operatives Abu Zaubaydah and Ramzi bin Al-Shaiba have been captured in Pakistan and handed over to the United States since last year's September 11 terror attacks, which claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people.
Bureau Report
"It's not correct. That's all there is to say," brigadier Javed Cheema told a news agency. The financial times of London reported over the weekend that one of bin Laden's sons had crossed the border from Afghanistan and was handed over to either the Saudi or Pakistani authorities, quoting an unnamed Iranian official.
Iran's government then confirmed that its security forces had unwittingly arrested bin Laden's son and sent him back to Pakistan, but later backtracked. Although accused by Washington of harbouring some al-Qaeda members, Iran has insisted it has arrested and promptly extradited some 250 members of the network.
Hundreds of al-Qaeda fugitives are believed by foreign intelligence officials to be hiding out in Pakistan, in remote western areas close to the porous border with Afghanistan, as well as cities in the east and south. Investigators believe many are harboured by local Islamic militants, some of whom trained with al-Qaeda fighters at camps in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime.
More than 422 al-Qaeda suspects including top operatives Abu Zaubaydah and Ramzi bin Al-Shaiba have been captured in Pakistan and handed over to the United States since last year's September 11 terror attacks, which claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people.
Bureau Report