ISLAMABAD, July 16 (Xinhuanet) -- US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has said "leader of al-Qeada Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayeman Al-Zawahiri could be hiding in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

    In an interview with a private TV channel here on Friday, Armitage said there is certain foreign fighter element (in Waziristan tribal area), as in the last operation several of them were either captured or killed.

    "We do think there are high value targets in the area and we love Pakistan to be successful in capturing them, so that we all could make more rapid on the war on terror," Armitage maintained.

    He said the high value target certainly includes Osama and Zawahiri, as "there whereabouts are unknown to us so they could beanywhere." "They could be on the Afghan side they could be in the tribal areas, they may go back and forth with others and sooner orlater they would be found out," the US official said.

    Asked about the Pakistan forces operations in South Waziristan tribal area, Armitage said he was terribly sorry by the deaths of up to 75 Pakistani soldiers and injuries to others. He said that Pakistan is not conducting those operations because United States tell it to, Pakistan is doing because government of Pakistan has come to the conclusion that it is in Pakistan's interest.

    He clarified that there is absolutely no extra pressure (on Pakistan) in the context of the US policy (to capture Osama).

    Armitage flew into Pakistan on Wednesday evening from New Delhiand began his two-day visit to Pakistan. He has talked with Pakistani leadership on bilateral relations, war against terrorism,situation in Afghanistan and Iraq and Pakistan-India relations. Enditem