The Pakistani President says he doesn't believe rumours that Osama bin Laden has slipped into Pakistan.
There has been concern he could slip across the rugged border with the help of sympathetic tribesmen.
But General Pervez Musharraf says to the best of his knowledge the leader has not crossed.
General Musharraf said Pakistan has beefed up security along the Afghan border in order to prevent bin Laden or his men from escaping the allied dragnet.
He has told reporters: "To the best of my knowledge, bin Laden has not crossed into Pakistan and I don't know about his whereabouts."
"We have also sought the cooperation of tribal leaders to ensure that bin Laden does not sneak into the country," he added.
Meanwhile, a senior militia commander in the eastern city of Jalalabad says he reckons bin Laden is nearby. He claims he is moving at night on horseback and sleeping in caves during the day.
Hazrat Ali says he has received reports from trusted informants that bin Laden was seen at an al-Qaida and Taliban base high in the mountains, as recently as three days ago.
PA