ISLAMABAD, July 4: Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao ruling out Osama’s presence in Pakistan, said on Monday that he might be in the southern parts of Afghanistan, since the area was not under effective control of Afghan government. In an interview with APP, the minister said there were indications that Taliban were re-emerging in south and southeast parts of Afghanistan since the summer started.

“The possibility of Mullah Omar, Osama bin Laden and his close aide Ayman Al-Zawahri hiding in that area cannot be ruled out,” Mr Sherpao said.

To a question, the minister said that Pakistan government would not tolerate terrorists. “Wherever in Pakistan we find any indication of their presence we will deal with them with iron hand.”—APP

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