In an interview with CNN, Musharraf said he is "reasonably sure" that bin Laden is still alive.

He said the reason bin Laden is still at large is a combination of the terrain where he disappeared -- in remote eastern Afghanistan or western Pakistan -- and that "he has supporters" in the area where he is hiding.

But Musharraf categorically denied that anyone in his country's security service is helping bin Laden in particular or al Qaeda in general.

"Not at all. I'm sure if you ask your own intelligence organizations here, they would know the truth, how much they get [from] our intelligence organization," the president said.

Musharraf also denied that the United States has been increasing pressure on Pakistan during the past few months to capture or kill bin Laden.

"There is absolutely no pressure," Musharraf said, noting "It's a joint responsibility of the whole coalition, and also Pakistan, to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan."

Musharraf was less enthusiastic in his support for the US war in Iraq, saying the world is less safe in the wake of the invasion.

But the Pakistani president stopped short of calling the invasion a mistake, saying, "I would say that it has ended up bringing more trouble to the world."

Musharraf also said that because of the situation in Iraq, he does not foresee Pakistan sending troops to help with the effort.

Musharraf also met with the prime minister of India on Friday to discuss the possibility of a peaceful solution to their differences, which center on Kashmir, over which India and Pakistan have fought three wars.

"Now I see sincerity in him. I think he's sincere towards this, and so am I," Musharraf said of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

(China Daily via agencies September 25, 2004)