NEW DELHI, Oct 3: If India, with its massive army deployment in Kashmir, could not check alleged cross-border infiltration, there was no guarantee that Pakistan could, President Pervez Musharraf was quoted on Friday as telling the “Time” magazine.

“Seventy thousand Indian troops couldn’t seal the border, so I cannot also guarantee (it),” Gen Musharraf said in the interview to be published on Monday.

“But I can guarantee one thing. There is no government sponsoring of anything that is going on the Line of Control,” he said, according to the excerpts reported by Press Trust of India.

On Pakistan army’s ongoing crackdown against Al Qaeda, President Musharraf said: “It is in Pakistan’s interest to act against Al Qaeda. We want to do it. Our forces want to do it.”

On the impression that Pakistan has not done enough to confront Al Qaeda and the Taliban, he said: “This is a very, very unfair comment. We have done the maximum in the fight against terrorism. Almost 500 people have been apprehended by Pakistan.”

Gen Musharraf said it was not possible for Pakistan to launch a military operation to sweep the entire tribal area, according to PTI.

“I’m afraid that is not within the capability of Pakistan or even of the US forces. Why has the US not succeeded in doing that in Afghanistan. It is not doable. I think it is very convenient to put the failure on Pakistan,” he said.

Of the current state of Al Qaeda network, Gen Musharraf said: “I think they have been very significantly diminished. They are on the run. They are hiding.”

He acknowledged that Osama bin Laden was alive. Asked what evidence he had to support the claim, Gen Musharraf said: “Electronic means. We know it because of messages going up and down. We are monitoring things. Through cooperation with (US) intelligence, we know.”

Was Osama bin Laden located in Pakistan? Gen Musharraf said: “Your guess is as good or as bad as mine. I am reasonably sure he is constantly on the move. So, therefore, he could be moving on our side or, of course, on the other side (in Afghanistan).”

Asked if he was doing the “world’s most difficult job”, Gen Musharraf said: “I do have a difficult job. (But) I am not one of those who get flustered.”