Indian spy planes picked Osama near N-E Pak
The Fox News Channel and a website with close Israeli links have claimed that the Indian Air Force sighted Osama bin Laden's convoy a few days ago in Tibet-Ladakh region close to the North-Eastern border of Pakistan.
According to Debka.com - a website believed to be run by people close to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad - bin Laden was spotted between October 17 and 19 by an Indian Air Force reconnaissance plane that picked him up close to the North-Eastern corner of Pakistan bordering India and China.
India's primary abilities to monitor a foreign land are based on a series of IRS satellites, aerial reconnaissance by aircraft and signal intelligence. While the IRS satellites have a resolution of around 5 meters, a plane like Jaguar deep penetration fighter can monitor upto 80 kilometers within enemy territory. But either cannot be so accurate in picking up a convoy and identify them as that of bin Laden.
India also has signal intelligence abilities that could be used to intercept radio and phone communications. While some officials dismiss the entire report as an effort to misuse Indian name on the eve of US presidential elections to salvage the fortunes of George Bush, there are some within the intelligence fraternity who believe that in the countdown to the polls it won't be surprising if bin Laden is produced in US custody. The Debka report claims that bin Laden would be on his way to his winter hideout and the latest video tape was taken before he was sighted by IAF planes.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-906421,curpg-2.cmsOsama may sneak into India, US seeks assistance
IANS< MONDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2004 05:37:29 PM >
NEW DELHI: A senior official of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) quietly visited India last week to alert intelligence agencies about the possibility of Osama bin Laden sneaking into India, official sources said Monday. The Pakistan-based official also sought Indian assistance for joint operations by Indian and US forces to nab the world's most wanted fugitive if he crossed over from northeastern Pakistan, the sources said.
The official's visit followed reported spotting of bin Laden in northeastern Pakistan, close to the Pakistan-China-India border tri-junction, they added. The sources said the FBI official met senior officials of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). They said the FBI official appeared to have information about the impending release of the latest videotape by bin Laden, carrying yet another warning against the US.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/906725.cms