਍਀㰀℀ⴀⴀ 猀愀瘀攀搀 昀爀漀洀 甀爀氀㴀⠀　　㜀㐀⤀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀眀愀猀栀椀渀最琀漀渀瀀漀猀琀⸀挀漀洀⼀愀挀㈀⼀眀瀀ⴀ搀礀渀⼀䄀㄀㐀㄀㌀㘀ⴀ㈀　　㄀匀攀瀀㈀㌀㼀氀愀渀最甀愀最攀㴀瀀爀椀渀琀攀爀 ⴀⴀ㸀ഀ washingtonpost.com: Taliban Leaders Say Fugitive Bin Laden Has Disappeared਍਀㰀䴀䔀吀䄀 栀琀琀瀀ⴀ攀焀甀椀瘀㴀䌀漀渀琀攀渀琀ⴀ吀礀瀀攀 挀漀渀琀攀渀琀㴀∀琀攀砀琀⼀栀琀洀氀㬀 挀栀愀爀猀攀琀㴀甀渀椀挀漀搀攀∀㸀ഀ ਍਀ഀ ਍਀㰀䈀伀䐀夀㸀ഀ

Taliban Leaders Say Fugitive Bin Laden Has ਍਀䐀椀猀愀瀀瀀攀愀爀攀搀㰀⼀䈀㸀㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀 㰀䈀刀㸀唀⸀匀⸀ 䐀椀猀洀椀猀猀攀猀 䌀氀愀椀洀Ⰰ 刀攀瀀攀愀琀猀 䐀攀洀愀渀搀猀 ഀ

By Molly Moore
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, ਍਀匀攀瀀琀攀洀戀攀爀 ㈀㐀Ⰰ ㈀　　㄀㬀 倀愀最攀 䄀㄀㈀ 㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀ഀ

਍਀㰀倀㸀䤀匀䰀䄀䴀䄀䈀䄀䐀Ⰰ 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀Ⰰ 匀攀瀀琀⸀ ㈀㌀ ⴀⴀ 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀✀猀 爀甀氀椀渀最 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 洀椀氀椀琀椀愀 猀愀椀搀 ഀ today that Osama bin Laden is missing and that messengers have been unable to ਍਀搀攀氀椀瘀攀爀 愀 爀攀焀甀攀猀琀 戀礀 氀攀愀搀椀渀最 䄀昀最栀愀渀 挀氀攀爀椀挀猀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 氀攀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀渀琀爀礀 ഀ voluntarily. The claim drew ridicule from U.S. officials who have ordered the ਍਀吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 琀漀 琀甀爀渀 漀瘀攀爀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 漀爀 昀愀挀攀 洀椀氀椀琀愀爀礀 愀琀琀愀挀欀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

"We are trying to find him, and when he is found we will place the ulema's ਍਀嬀挀氀攀爀椀挀猀✀崀 搀攀挀椀猀椀漀渀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 栀椀洀Ⰰ∀ 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 猀瀀漀欀攀猀洀愀渀 䄀戀搀甀氀 䠀愀椀 䴀甀琀洀愀攀渀 琀漀氀搀 渀攀眀猀 ഀ agencies. "Then it is up to him to leave Afghanistan or not."

਍਀㰀倀㸀唀⸀匀⸀ 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀猀 椀洀洀攀搀椀愀琀攀氀礀 搀椀猀洀椀猀猀攀搀 琀栀攀 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 猀琀愀琀攀洀攀渀琀 愀猀 甀渀戀攀氀椀攀瘀愀戀氀攀⸀ ഀ "We are not going to be deterred by comments that he may be missing," said ਍਀渀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 猀攀挀甀爀椀琀礀 愀搀瘀椀猀攀爀 䌀漀渀搀漀氀攀攀稀稀愀 刀椀挀攀Ⰰ 漀渀攀 漀昀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 䈀甀猀栀 愀搀洀椀渀椀猀琀爀愀琀椀漀渀 ഀ officials who appeared on television talk shows in Washington. "We simply don't ਍਀戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀 椀琀⸀∀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

Rice reiterated Washington's demands that the Taliban surrender bin Laden and ਍਀栀椀猀 愀猀猀椀猀琀愀渀琀猀 漀爀 ∀昀愀挀攀 琀栀攀 眀爀愀琀栀 漀昀 愀渀 椀渀琀攀爀渀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 挀漀愀氀椀琀椀漀渀⸀∀ 唀⸀匀⸀ 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀猀 ഀ have accused bin Laden of masterminding the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New ਍਀夀漀爀欀 愀渀搀 圀愀猀栀椀渀最琀漀渀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

"They know where he is," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told CBS's ਍਀∀䘀愀挀攀 琀栀攀 一愀琀椀漀渀⸀∀ ∀吀栀攀礀 欀渀漀眀 琀栀攀椀爀 挀漀甀渀琀爀礀⸀ ⸀ ⸀ ⸀ 䤀琀 椀猀 樀甀猀琀 渀漀琀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀愀戀氀攀 ഀ that the Taliban do not know."

਍਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀✀猀 䴀甀琀洀愀攀渀 挀漀渀挀攀搀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀✀猀 爀攀瀀漀爀琀攀搀 搀椀猀愀瀀瀀攀愀爀攀渀挀攀 栀愀搀 ഀ not sparked fear for his safety: "He is never alone. He has his followers with ਍਀栀椀洀⸀ 䄀氀猀漀Ⰰ 栀攀 欀渀漀眀猀 栀漀眀 琀漀 氀漀漀欀 愀昀琀攀爀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀⸀∀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

The Taliban has reported bin Laden missing at least once before after coming ਍਀甀渀搀攀爀 椀渀琀攀渀猀攀 椀渀琀攀爀渀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 瀀爀攀猀猀甀爀攀 琀漀 猀甀爀爀攀渀搀攀爀 琀栀攀 愀氀氀攀最攀搀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀⸀ 䤀渀 ഀ February 1999, six months after bin Laden allegedly directed the bombing of two ਍਀唀⸀匀⸀ 攀洀戀愀猀猀椀攀猀 椀渀 䄀昀爀椀挀愀 愀渀搀 ㄀　 搀愀礀猀 愀昀琀攀爀 愀 匀琀愀琀攀 䐀攀瀀愀爀琀洀攀渀琀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 瘀椀猀椀琀攀搀 ഀ Afghanistan to press for his extradition, a Taliban spokesman said bin Laden had ਍਀搀椀猀愀瀀瀀攀愀爀攀搀 愀渀搀 眀愀猀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀搀 琀漀 栀愀瘀攀 氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀渀琀爀礀⸀ 唀⸀匀⸀ 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀猀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀攀搀 ഀ the claim at the time, and bin Laden was sighted in Afghanistan soon after.

਍਀㰀倀㸀刀甀洀猀昀攀氀搀 愀挀欀渀漀眀氀攀搀最攀搀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀 栀愀搀 ∀氀漀猀琀 挀漀渀琀愀挀琀∀ 眀椀琀栀 愀渀 ഀ unmanned surveillance plane that Taliban soldiers claimed to have shot down in ਍਀渀漀爀琀栀攀爀渀 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀 漀渀 匀愀琀甀爀搀愀礀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀攀 搀攀挀氀椀渀攀搀 琀漀 挀漀渀昀椀爀洀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 愀椀爀挀爀愀昀琀 ഀ had been shot down.

਍਀㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 攀砀挀栀愀渀最攀 漀昀 爀栀攀琀漀爀椀挀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 愀渀搀 唀⸀匀⸀ 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀猀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 洀攀搀椀愀 ഀ came as the United States continued to press nations around the world to join ਍਀椀琀猀 攀昀昀漀爀琀猀 琀漀 昀椀最栀琀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀洀 ⴀⴀ 愀渀搀 琀漀 猀焀甀攀攀稀攀 琀栀攀 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 漀瘀攀爀 椀琀猀 栀愀爀戀漀爀椀渀最 ഀ of bin Laden. Late Saturday night, Washington rewarded two countries that have ਍਀愀最爀攀攀搀 琀漀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀 氀漀最椀猀琀椀挀愀氀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 愀渀搀 漀琀栀攀爀 愀猀猀椀猀琀愀渀挀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 攀瘀攀渀琀 漀昀 ഀ attacks against Afghanistan.

਍਀㰀倀㸀倀爀攀猀椀搀攀渀琀 䈀甀猀栀 氀椀昀琀攀搀 猀愀渀挀琀椀漀渀猀 漀渀 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀 愀渀搀 䤀渀搀椀愀 琀栀愀琀 眀攀爀攀 椀洀瀀漀猀攀搀 椀渀 ഀ 1998 after both countries conducted nuclear weapons tests in May 1998.

਍਀㰀倀㸀吀漀搀愀礀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 匀漀甀琀栀 䄀猀椀愀渀 爀椀瘀愀氀猀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 琀栀攀 挀攀猀猀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 猀愀渀挀琀椀漀渀猀 愀 最漀漀搀眀椀氀氀 ഀ gesture by the United States that would strengthen their relations with ਍਀圀愀猀栀椀渀最琀漀渀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

But Pakistani officials pointed out that economic sanctions related to the ਍਀㄀㤀㤀㤀 洀椀氀椀琀愀爀礀 挀漀甀瀀 琀栀愀琀 戀爀漀甀最栀琀 倀爀攀猀椀搀攀渀琀 倀攀爀瘀攀稀 䴀甀猀栀愀爀爀愀昀 琀漀 瀀漀眀攀爀Ⰰ 愀氀漀渀最 眀椀琀栀 ഀ other bans on sales of military equipment to Pakistan, remain in effect and are ਍਀昀愀爀 洀漀爀攀 猀攀瘀攀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 琀栀攀 挀甀爀戀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀琀攀洀洀攀搀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 渀甀挀氀攀愀爀 琀攀猀琀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

"This is nothing more than a lollipop for Pakistan," said a senior finance ਍਀洀椀渀椀猀琀爀礀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 栀攀爀攀⸀ 㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

On the other hand, authorities said, Bush's decision would allow the United ਍਀匀琀愀琀攀猀 琀漀 瘀漀琀攀 椀渀 昀愀瘀漀爀 漀昀 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀✀猀 挀爀甀挀椀愀氀 爀攀焀甀攀猀琀 昀漀爀 愀 ␀㌀⸀㔀 戀椀氀氀椀漀渀 ഀ poverty-reduction fund scheduled for final review in early October by the ਍਀䤀渀琀攀爀渀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 䴀漀渀攀琀愀爀礀 䘀甀渀搀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

"Pakistan welcomes the decision by the United States to lift sanctions ਍਀椀洀瀀漀猀攀搀 椀渀 ㄀㤀㤀　 愀渀搀 漀琀栀攀爀猀 椀洀瀀漀猀攀搀 椀渀 ㄀㤀㤀㠀 昀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 渀甀挀氀攀愀爀 琀攀猀琀猀 戀礀 䤀渀搀椀愀 愀渀搀 ഀ Pakistan," Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar said today. He added: "It's better that ਍਀眀攀 欀攀攀瀀 漀渀 渀攀最漀琀椀愀琀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 甀氀琀椀洀愀琀攀氀礀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 猀愀渀挀琀椀漀渀猀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 氀椀昀琀攀搀⸀∀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

In New Delhi, praise was similarly tepid. "We have always maintained that ਍਀猀愀渀挀琀椀漀渀猀 愀爀攀 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 愀渀搀 椀渀攀昀昀攀挀琀椀瘀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀攀 猀琀愀渀搀 瘀椀渀搀椀挀愀琀攀搀Ⰰ∀ ഀ Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nirupama Rao said today. Rao noted that most ਍਀漀昀 琀栀攀 猀攀瘀攀渀 洀攀愀猀甀爀攀猀 椀洀瀀漀猀攀搀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 䤀渀搀椀愀 猀椀渀挀攀 椀琀猀 渀甀挀氀攀愀爀 琀攀猀琀猀Ⰰ 椀渀挀氀甀搀椀渀最 ഀ bans on foreign assistance, had already been relaxed.

਍਀㰀倀㸀倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 渀愀琀椀漀渀 洀漀猀琀 爀攀猀瀀漀渀猀椀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 挀爀攀愀琀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 攀砀瀀愀渀猀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 ഀ Taliban, has agreed to a list of demands from the United States that includes ਍਀漀瀀攀渀椀渀最 愀椀爀猀瀀愀挀攀Ⰰ 瀀漀爀琀猀 愀渀搀 洀椀氀椀琀愀爀礀 戀愀猀攀猀 昀漀爀 氀愀甀渀挀栀椀渀最 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀 愀琀琀愀挀欀猀 椀渀 ഀ Afghanistan. India has also agreed to open its military facilities to U.S. ਍਀瀀攀爀猀漀渀渀攀氀Ⰰ 愀椀爀挀爀愀昀琀 愀渀搀 猀栀椀瀀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

A U.S. military team headed by Air Force Brig. Gen. Kevin Chilton, the ਍਀倀攀渀琀愀最漀渀✀猀 搀椀爀攀挀琀漀爀 漀昀 瀀氀愀渀渀椀渀最 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 一攀愀爀 䔀愀猀琀 愀渀搀 匀漀甀琀栀 䄀猀椀愀Ⰰ 爀攀瀀漀爀琀攀搀氀礀 ഀ arrived here today to prepare plans for the use of Pakistani military and ਍਀椀渀琀攀氀氀椀最攀渀挀攀 昀愀挀椀氀椀琀椀攀猀 琀漀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀 愀琀琀愀挀欀猀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

Special correspondents Kamran Khan in Karachi, Pakistan, and Rama Lakshmi ਍਀椀渀 一攀眀 䐀攀氀栀椀 挀漀渀琀爀椀戀甀琀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀椀猀 爀攀瀀漀爀琀⸀㰀⼀䔀䴀㸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ

਍਀㰀倀㸀ഀ
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