dcsh 2008-2-9 08:02 PM
US says Mullah Omar 'in Pakistan'
US says Mullah Omar 'in Pakistan'
[size=2] [table=203] [tr][td] [img=203,152]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40910000/jpg/_40910518_taleban_bbc_.jpg[/img] Mullah Omar (C) and Taleban leaders are still at large
[/td][/tr] [/table] [b]Taleban leader Mullah Omar and al-Qaeda commanders, including OsamaBin Laden, are living in Pakistan, a senior US official has toldreporters.[/b][/size][size=2]He said senior Taleban leaders were in hiding withMullah Omar in Quetta, from where they co-ordinated the insurgency inAfghanistan.[/size]
[size=2]He also reiterated Washington's belief that Bin Laden was taking refuge in Pakistan's western tribal areas.[/size]
[size=2]Islamabad repeatedly denies that Mullah Omar or Bin Laden are in Pakistan.[/size]
[size=2]The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity in Washington, told reporters: [/size]
[size=2]"There is no question that the iconic leaders ofal-Qaeda - (Ayman al-)Zawahiri, Bin Laden... are in the tribal areas ofPakistan.[/size]
[size=2]"We believe that the Taleban's shura (consultation) council leaders led by Mullah Omar reside in Quetta in Pakistan," he said.[/size]
[size=2][b]Captured evidence[/b][/size]
[size=2]The official, who did not give a source for hisinformation, said al-Qaeda was doing its planning in the tribal areas"just as Mullah Omar is giving strategic direction for the Taleban fromQuetta". [table=203] [tr][td] [img=203,152]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44415000/gif/_44415487_pakistan_quetta2_map203.gif[/img]
[/td][/tr] [/table] [/size]
[size=2]Quetta is the capital of rugged Balochistan province which borders Afghanistan.[/size]
[size=2]Last month, captured Taleban spokesman Muhammad Hanifmade similar claims about Mullah Omar's whereabouts, which wererejected by Pakistan.[/size]
[size=2]Mr Hanif said Mullah Omar was protected by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency.[/size]
[size=2]Afghan President Hamid Karzai made similar allegationslast year. The ISI was instrumental in backing the Taleban after civilwar swept Afghanistan following the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989. [/size]
