Islamabad, May 10 : Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was not hiding in Pakistan because its security forces had searched the areas where he was feared to be hiding, Pakistan Defence Minister Ch Ahmed Mukhtar has said.

He said that Pakistan government was trying its best to catch Qaeda operatives and try them in courts of law.

“I don't think Osama bin Laden is in Pakistan because we have combed our area,” The Nation quoted the defence minister as saying.

Acknowledging that it was not possible to totally control the border with Afghanistan, he said Pakistan was trying to apprehend all Al-Qaeda operatives within its territory.

He added: “I don't think that they would be in hundreds. It won't be more than hundreds, including all the leadership. We are trying our best to get hold of that leadership and to take them to courts and to see what we can do with them.” (ANI)