Osama bin Laden in region, says Hamid Karzai

New Delhi, Nov 18: Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai today said Osama bin Laden is in the region.

''I don't know where he is. If he has not run away, he is in the region,'' Mr Karzai said in reply to a question whether he knew the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.

He was replying to questions after his address at the Fourth Annual Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here on 'India : The Next Global Superpower.' Asked whether he would hold talks with Mullah Omar in the larger interests of peace in Afghanistan, Mr Karzai said he was prepared to have talks with anybody in the interest of peace.

''For the sake of peace, how can I tell you that I can't talk to somebody,'' he said.

However, those who had committed and were committing crimes against Afghan people, should face the law. But those who had settled down to peaceful lives, were welcome.

With Mullah Omar, he asserted that he would not hold talks.

''For Mullah Omar, do you think it is possible ? Afghan Taliban, Yes. Non-Afghan Taliban, No,'' he said amid applause.

UNI

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