'Osama in Chitral Valley in Pak'

Washington, Sep 9: Terror mastermind and al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is presently hiding in Chitral Valley in north-west Pakistan, claimed US experts.

Several US television channels and newspapers have quoted US counter-terrorism experts as saying that Osama bin Laden is hiding in Chitral because it is remote and its rugged terrain makes it impossible for the Pakistan Army to look for him there.

There"s enough evidence "to persuade intelligence analysts that it"s his most likely location," an expert said.

The US claimed while commenting on al Qaeda leader"s latest video in which he has taunted America for losing the war against him.

Daniel Benjamin of the Brookings Institute says that al Qaeda chief also has sympathisers in that area.

"They have a code of hospitality for guests, and they"ve probably also got a fair amount of money from bin Laden," said Benjamin.

He believes that bin Laden is surrounded by bodyguards armed with surface-to-air missiles and good intelligence.

"I think it"s quite likely he has a very good early warning system (and) that there are perimeters set up so people know who"s coming and going in the area that he"s living," Benjamin said.

Michael Scheuer, a former CIA analyst and author of three books on al Qaeda and terrorism, disagrees with this theory.

"I think they"re blowing a little bit of smoke. They have to say something now that he is back in the public eye," he said.

"If you look at the territory, it is impossible to find any single person up there, and we don"t have enough people to do it, and we respect Pakistan"s sovereignty. I guess they"re not going to go into Pakistan," the Dawn quoted him, as saying.

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