Gilani says bin Laden is not in Pakistan

LONDON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said he doesn't think al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is in Pakistan, as many Western leaders believe.

"I doubt the information which you are giving is correct because I don't think Osama bin Laden is in Pakistan," the visiting Pakistani leader, appearing with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, told a news conference in London, The New York Times reported.

In recent days, Brown had demanded Pakistan step up its efforts to capture bin Laden. Britain and other Western governments believe bin Laden and his No. 2, Ayman Zawahiri, are hiding in Pakistan's tribal areas after escaping from Afghanistan.

Gilani did not say where he believed bin Laden might be.

Britain plans to provide about $83 million to aid the Pakistani fight against the insurgents along its border with Afghanistan.

The British newspaper The Independent quoted Gilani as saying Pakistan should not be blamed for the failure of Western powers to capture bin Laden.

On Brown's earlier demand, Gilani said Pakistani security forces have not received any "actionable information" on hunting bin Laden.

The Independent reported Gilani also rejected the claim that three-quarters of terror plots against Britain originated in Pakistan.

"I don't agree with this information because we are fighting this war on terrorism," Gilani said.

Brown said Britain is working with Pakistan to improve anti-terrorism efforts. "I think, over the next period of time, we will strengthen the security cooperation between our two countries," he said.