Osama bin Laden is not in hiding in Pakistan, the country's prime minster said on Thursday.
"I don't think Osama bin Laden is in Pakistan," Yusuf Raza Gilani said at a news conference in London after a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He was answering a question on Pakistan's efforts to track down the world's most wanted terrorist.
On Sunday, the British prime minister called on Pakistan to take "tougher action against the leadership of al Qaeda", adding "Osama Bin Laden has never been near to being caught."
Brown said Britain would help Pakistan fight internal terrorism and pledged to provide the country with 50 million pounds ($83 million) in aid.
Pakistan has been hit by frequent attacks as it struggles with Islamic radicalism.
"This is your fight, but it is also Britain's fight," Brown told his Pakistani counterpart.
An army offensive against Taliban militants has been underway in the Swat Valley in northwest Pakistan since early May. Over 2,000 militants have been killed so far.
Earlier this week, Gordon Brown said an additional 500 British troops would be deployed in Afghanistan. The statement followed White House calls for NATO states to supply additional troops to fight militants in the war-ravaged state. U.S. President Barack Obama pledged in his address to the nation on Tuesday night to send an extra 30,000 troops to the country.
LONDON, December 3 (RIA Novosti)
