November 30, 2003	Sunday	Shawwal 5, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: Pakistan has taken strong exception to the statement of Afghan President Hamid Karzai about the presence of Taleban leader Mullah Omar in Quetta.

Officials said that by making such statements, the Afghan government was squandering Pakistan’s goodwill.

President Karzai is reported to have told The Times, a British newspaper, that he had infor-mation about sighting of Mullah Omar in a mosque in Quetta, adding that the city was a stronghold of anti-coalition forces.

Sources said Pakistan had posted 70,000 troops along its western borders, adding that its intelligence network had neutralised the possibility of Taleban and Al Qaeda groupings.

Sources said that the Afghan president’s statement was without any substance and was based on hearsay.

They said it was in violation of the agreement reached at the highest level between the two countries to share any credible information through proper channels.

During meetings between President Musharraf and President Karzai and at the foreign ministers level it was decided not to make hostile public statements.

Sources said Pakistan, apart from rebutting false claims, has not made any hostile statement towards Afghanistan as it believed in peaceful co-existence with its neighbour, ally and friend.