Washington, July 20: Some elements in the Pakistan government know the whereabouts of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, said US secretary of state, Ms Hillary Clinton, warning it against keeping a “poisonous” snake in its backyard.
Ms Clinton also said the Pakistanis leadership during her visit to Islamabad has been told to take on every non-governmental armed force inside the country.
The US’ top diplomat said Pakistan's intelligence establishment must share with the US any information about movement of bin Laden and al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri.
“I want those guys. I will not be satisfied until we get them,” she said in interviews to American TV channels during her just concluded visit to Islamabad.
“...I assume somebody, somebody in this government, from top to bottom, does know where bin Laden is. And I'd like to know too. So I think we've got to keep pressure on, which we are doing,” Ms Clinton said.
“I don't want to put a proximity or timeline on it (getting bin Laden). As I've said, we have gotten closer because we have been able to kill a number of their trainers, their operational people, their financiers,” Ms Clinton told Fox News channel.
She said the US and international forces were getting closer to the fugitive. “But I won't be satisfied until we get it done.”
“I think elements in the government do know (Osama’s location). But I think it is also important to know we have been getting with Pakistani cooperation a lot of the top leadership of Al Qaeda,” she said.
Ms Clinton said that there were arguments put forward by Islamabad that how many fights that they can take on with various groups.
To this, Ms Clinton said she had told the Pakistani leadership “look, you've got to take on every non-governmental armed force inside your country, because even though you think they won't bother you today, there is no guarantee. It’s like keeping a poisonous snake in your backyard.”