Boucher convinced Omar, Osama not in Balochistan

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher, has reportedly agreed to the Pakistani view that there was no solid proof supporting the presence of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and Talibans Mulla Omar in Balochistan.

Quetta, June 15 : Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher, has reportedly agreed to the Pakistani view that there was no solid proof supporting the presence of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and Taliban's Mulla Omar in Balochistan.

Boucher met Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yusuf during which the latter dispelled the impression that Quetta was headquarter of the Taliban.

"There is no headquarters of Taliban in Quetta, nor Mulla Omar or Osama bin Laden are present in Quetta or any other part of Balochistan," Yusuf said.

Boucher agreed that there was no solid "evidence of Mulla Omar being present in Balochistan" and appreciated Pakistan's role in the war on terror, the Dawn reported.

Yusuf told Boucher that Pakistan was making all-out efforts to plug its border with Afghanistan.

The Balochistan CM also discussed the issue of Afghan refugees with Boucher, and said the presence of over one million refugees in the province had created a lot of problems.

"The Pakistan government wants the Afghan refugees to go back to their country," Yusuf said.

Boucher also had a meeting with officials of the Frontier Corps in Chaman Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The US Assistant Secretary later visited the Friendship Gate, at the border, to see the steps taken by Pakistan for stopping illegal cross-border movement.

ANI