Refuge of Osama Bin Laden in China Afghan border
Sonia Chopra, Special Correspondent
January 17, 2005

Where is the safest area for Bin Laden to survive? Well you may think it will be the Pakistan Afghan border. But that is really most unsafe because that is where people think he is and American forces are looking for him. 

You may then think it has to be Pakistan itself. Well that cannot be true with Musharraf fighting the Al-Queda every day.

Some say it is Kashmir then. Well at anytime both, India and Pakistan may decide to comb all of Kashmir and even allow the American Special Forces to join them.

Then where is it that he can hide so well and occasionally stir the world with some audiotapes?

There are places in Afghan and Pakistan that borders with China. That is one area where no one is really looking. It is a small strip of land between Tajikistan and Pakistan and the land terrain such that is difficult to find any one. The Wakhan Corridor from Afghanistan to China is an ideal place for Osama Bin Laden to hide specially within Chinese territory.

There are rumors in the Kashgar market that China may have struck a deal with Osama. In exchange of safe refuge in Wakhan Corridore in China,

Al-Queda will never strike China. China categorically denies any such rumor.

Strategically it may be the ideal place of hiding because the American forces will definitely not venture into Chinese territory without advanced notice to China. Also, the terrain is worse than Afghanistan itself.

China has a sizable Islamic population in that area. The policy Beijing followed before nine eleven terrorism was to have a good relationship with Al-Queda and Talibans. In late 2001, the policy changed with Pakistan making a U-turn on relations with the Taliban and Al-Queda.

China is always very worried about Islamic and Jehadist insurgencies these areas. They used to work with Pakistan, Taliban and Al-Queda to keep their Muslim population happy. But now interestingly, the terror attacks in China are comparatively negligible while they are on rise in Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere. It cannot be true that all of a sudden the Chinese territory became so calm and quiet.

One possible interpretation is that Osama Bin Laden received a safe refuge with Chinese knowledge. China may not be providing the refuge. They are just keeping quiet knowing very well he is in Wakhan Corridor.

It is also possible that Pakistan Military including Musharraf knows that he is there and is keeping quiet about it.