US believes Bin Laden still alive

BBC | January 17 2006

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said his country cannot accept actions like the recent US air strike on a village that killed 18 people.

"The relationship with the US is important, it is growing. But at the same time such actions cannot be condoned," Mr Aziz said.

US media reports said the attack was aimed at al-Qaeda's number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Osama Bin Laden and his deputy are thought to be in the area, the US says.

Prime Minister Aziz made his remarks at a press conference in Islamabad in the company of former US President George Bush Senior, who is touring areas hit by the recent earthquake in Pakistan.

"Pakistan is committed to fighting terrorism but naturally we cannot accept any action within our country which results in what happened over the weekend," he said.
The BBC's Zaffar Abbas in Islamabad says the US action has led to fresh domestic pressure on Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf, who is already perceived to be close to Washington.

Bin Laden 'alive'

US counter-terrorism ambassador Henry Crumpton has told the BBC that the al-Qaeda leader and his number two are believed to be in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.

"We have no intelligence or evidence that indicates that he [Bin Laden] is dead or incapacitated, so our working assumption is that he is still alive."
Al-Qaeda retained the aim of attacking the US, UK and Europe, he said.

The US has not commented on the attack on the Pakistan village on Friday that killed 18 civilians.

US media said the attack was carried out by the CIA. Thousands of Pakistanis later staged anti-American demonstrations.

Mr Crumpton told the BBC: "I am very confident we will at some point get al-Qaeda's leadership, and we believe they are in that area."

The ambassador added: "I should also note, no sign of life from Bin Laden, I think that reflects our collective success.

"I think and certainly hope that they are more concerned about staying alive than plotting the next 9/11."

But he warned: "Al-Qaeda and affiliated groups have a strategic aim of attacking the US homeland - that is their intent, we believe they are working toward that.

"I think also they intend to attack the UK again, and Europe."

Mr Crumpton also said the US did not "support, condone or engage in torture" of prisoners.

"Our efforts in counter-terrorism are complex, often secret, therefore that engenders some misunderstanding, some misperceptions, exaggerations."

But he added: "In terms of detainees and prisoners, information they provide is extraordinarily valuable - it has saved lives, it has stopped attacks in Europe and elsewhere."

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