Asserting that Pakistan was capable of capturing Osama bin Laden, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said he would not allow other countries into Pakistani territory to capture the al Qaeda chief.
Pakistan itself would capture him if he was indeed in the country, he told ABC news on Thursday, but was noncommittal on whether the most wanted international terrorist would be handed over to the United States in case he was captured.
"We are capable of doing it... If we get intelligence, we will do it ourselves," he said.
Responding to a recent statement by Central Intelligence Agency chief Porter Goss that the US had an 'excellent' idea where Osama bin Laden was but would have a difficult time bringing him to justice because of sovereignty issues, Musharraf said he would not let other countries into Pakistan, if the al Qaeda leader was indeed there.
Asked if Pakistan would turn him over to the United States in case he was found in Pakistan, Musharraf said he would 'have to see what happens'.
"We hope he's found in Afghanistan by the Americans... I would much prefer that somebody else handled him," he said, adding Pakistani intelligence agents were working closely with their American counterparts on the issue.
"Our intelligence is very well coordinated," he said. Musharraf said he believed that Osama was still alive, but did not know if he was in Pakistan.
"My gut says he is somewhere in the border regions (between Pakistan and Afghanistan)."
