BUENOS AIRES, Dec 4: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Friday said that Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was alive. The statement came in an interview published by La Nacion newspaper after the Pakistani leader had concluded his 48-hour visit to Argentina.

"Based on interrogations of other members of Al Qaeda, I know he is alive," the Spanish-language paper quoted Gen Musharraf as saying.

But he said he did not know where Osama was hiding.

The Pakistani president said his country had made great strides in combating terrorism.

He said that Pakistan and India were going through "a process of rapprochement".

"We are seeking peaceful coexistence with India through confidence-building measures and resolution of all the disputes," he said, but warned: "We are not going to achieve peace using only one hand." -AFP