Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said today he thought al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was probably not alive, but if he was he could not be in Pakistan.
"If he was alive, he obviously would be moving with a large entourage of local people and therefore they would like to have a safe haven, a large area for themselves," Mr Musharraf told a news conference.
"He cannot be hiding in one small corner of Pakistan in the border areas, and his remaining there without being found is also impossible."
"Therefore I think Osama bin Laden cannot possibly be in Pakistan if he is alive," he said. "I still doubt if he is alive, but if he is alive he cannot be in Pakistan."
There has been speculation that bin Laden could have fled Afghanistan to neighboring Pakistan and taken shelter either in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas or even in Pakistan's vast cities.