January 23, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 19, 1423

DUBAI, Jan 22: Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah says Osama Bin Laden is still living. Commenting on a recent report that Osama bin Laden had escaped to Pakistan after crossing the Afghan border, Dr Abdullah told a Dubai newspaper, “I think he is still alive.”

Without speculating about his whereabouts or taking the name of Pakistan or any other country, he said his government has no idea where’s he or Al Qaeda’s top leadership is hiding. He also said terrorists are still at work within Afghanistan.

“Terrorism, as part of an international network has been defeated in Afghanistan, though terrorists as individuals are still there. It will take some time before we eliminate it (terrorism) from the society,” The Gulf News has quoted him as saying.

Dr Abdullah was talking to the local media while transiting in Dubai. He also visited the Global Village, where Afghanistan has opened a pavilion for the first time.