ISLAMABAD, May 1: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday there were indications that Osama bin Laden was alive, and he might be hiding in the tribal territory along the Afghan border.

Gen Musharraf told a TV channel that Osama could be with a small group of bodyguards, hiding on the Pakistani or Afghan side of the remote area. “Some indications are there that he is not dead but where is he?

Nothing can be said about that,” he said.

The president said it was possible that Osama, who in the past travelled with a large number of bodyguards, could have given that up in view of the intense hunt for him in Afghanistan and opted for a smaller group.

“If they are in a small group, two, four, eight or 10 people, then they can hide on this side, our side of the tribal area, or hide on the Afghan side. I cannot say with surety,” he said.—Reuters