Is Osama bin Laden in Pakistan's Taliban-run territory?
On Wednesday, the Taliban - the one with whom Islamabad reached a deal - said the world's most wanted terrorist was free to visit Swat.
When NDTV asked, "But if someone like Osama said I want to come, would you say welcome?"
Muslim Khan, Taliban spokesman in Swat said, "Osama, anybody can come here. We cannot say don't come here, we cannot say never."
Osama bin Laden is believed to be somewhere in the remote mountains of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The Taliban's open invitation to Osama could be seen as an embarrassment to Islamabad and Washington. Islamabad, for handing over power to the Taliban and Washington for going soft on the deal with the extremists.
Pakistan maintains that Osama is not in the country. And so the government reacted sharply, saying it would use force if Osama turns up.
But even without Osama, there's growing concern in Pakistan with television reports of the Taliban taking over government offices in Buner. That's just 100 kms from Islamabad.
Some may say it's too close for comfort. But the government of Pakistan doesn't seem worried.
