US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The US Embassy in Islamabad has issued a clarification regarding US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's interview where he stated that someone in the Pakistani government knew where Osama bin Laden was hiding, DawnNews reported on Sunday.

The US embassy stated that the US still believes that Pakistani officials were unaware about the presence of Osama Bin Laden's hideout in Abottabad.

Spokesman for the US Defense Department, George Little said that Panetta’s interview was old and the US was uncertain about the presence of Osama in Pakistan at the time of the interview.

The statement by the US embassy further said that Panetta and other US officials are trying sincerely to improve US-Pakistan relations.