Updated on Sunday, April 22, 2007, 00:00 IST

Washington, April 22: A top US military commander has said that if Osama bin Laden was holed up in Pakistan's Waziristan tribal areas, and even if American forces knew his exact location, they did not have the authority to undertake a military strike against the al Qaeda leader.

Admiral William Fallon, Head of the Central Command (Centcom) which oversees critical areas of American military engagement in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing that while his forces will do "everything" to get bin Laden, they cannot get into the FATA, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Asked if he had had operational approval to strike if Osama's exact location was discovered in Waziristan, Fallone said: "I do not have permission to go across that border on my own and to conduct activities within that country without some arrangement or agreement with the government of Pakistan."

"I can tell you that if I could get information on the exact whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, we'd do everything we possibly could to try to get him," Admiral Fallon replied.

The top army commander also said he had talked to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf about a situation where "we might ask for specific help. I've gotten his assurance of assistance if we have an issue that we think we need to work."

During the course of defending the Centcom's Fiscal 2008 budgetary requirements, Admiral Fallon praised Musharraf for his efforts in the ongoing 'war on terror.'

"He's moved or had his army moved two brigades of forces from the Indian frontier to the west of the country. Given the mindset that I think I understand within that country, this is pretty significant, because of all the things that they are concerned about, they still have this fixation on the Indian frontier and the challenges between these countries.

Fallone also said he had an "insight into the India side as well" and pointed out the "good news" of decrease in tensions between the two countries.

"For the better part of two years now, there has been a steady de-tensioning on that border between India and Pakistan, and I think that can be only good news for them and for the rest of the world," Fallon said.

Bureau Report