Where is Osama?

Frontier Post 24 January, 1998

FBI sleuths mount hunt for Osama

From ASLAM BUTT

ISLAMABAD The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a massive hunt for the multi-millionaire Saudi Arabian national Osama Bin Ladin. The implacable anti-US Ladin is believed to have been absconding in areas bordering the war-torn Afghanistan, 'where feels secure.' Competent sources told The Frontier Post here Friday that a fresh batch of no less than 1000 FBI sleuths had arrived for joining the detectives already engaged in a drive to arrest the Saudi absconder.The sources were confident that Osama Bin Ladin would be apprehended and spirited away to the United States shortly. You Pakistani newsmen will soon learn from the US media that Osama has been arrested and produced in an American court for trial, they asserted.

Osama Bin Ladin is allegedly involved in the killing of more than 20 US militarymen, stationed in Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War. The Dahran bombing incident had caused serious security concerns for the US.

It is further learnt that after bringing to justice two hard-liners of the Muslim world, Yousaf Ramzi and Amil Kansi, US authorities are bent upon taking to task the third dreaded terrorist at large. The diplomatic sources stressed that he must be caught at any cost to ensure protection of the US nationals across the world, particularly in the violent (and unfortunate at that) Muslim countries. The FBI officials are stated to have been told by their bosses in the United States to ensure the arrest of Osama at all costs.

It is to be noted here that the FBI, soon after the arrest of Yousaf Ramzi during the previous regime of the PPP, has established a permanent office in Islamabad. This undeclared office is kept moving form one palatial bungalow in posh sectors of Islamabad to another. The United States mission has acquired hundreds of bungalows in sectors of F/7 E/7, F/10 and around and they have always been very accommodating to their friends in secret agencies. Meanwhile, US officials are going to offer the Taliban a heavy monetary reward for getting their support in tracking down the elusive Osama.