Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, on a visit to Downing Street, today rebuffed Gordon Brown’s comments that Pakistan could do more to apprehend Osama Bin Laden, says The Times. “I doubt the information which you are giving is correct because I don’t think Osama bin Laden is in Pakistan,” Gilani said.

Brown, speaking in Islamabad at the weekend, rebuked Pakistan, complaining that nobody had been able “to spot or detain or get close” to Bin Laden or his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri. “If we are putting our strategy into place, Pakistan has to show that it can take on Al-Qaeda,” Brown said.

At today’s joint press conference, Brown praised Gilani for his role in taking on Al-Qaeda in the Swat Valley and South Waziristan. He also acknowledged the “huge sacrifices” made by Pakistan in combating terrorism.

“I think it’s important that the Prime Minister has signaled, as he has done in recent months, the real importance that Pakistan attaches to dealing with these problems and I can assure him of the UK’s full support in this matter,” Brown said.

Over 2,000 Pakistani civilians have died in terrorist attacks over the last year. These attacks have been sparked by government offensives against Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants operating in the Swat Valley and South Waziristan regions.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Brown praises Pakistan on terrorism (guardian.co.uk)
• The question that won’t go away: where is Osama bin Laden? (guardian.co.uk)