New Delhi: Asserting that Osama bin Laden was holed up somewhere on the Pak-Afghan border, the United States has indicated that there would be some forward movement in getting the terrorist-mastermind in the near future.

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"We are waiting for a few things to happen in the right sequence... it (catching bin Laden) could happen in a minute from now, an hour from now or a month from now. We are well-positioned to expect very good information which will enable us to act," US Ambassador at Large on Counter-terrorism J Cofer Black told a select audience in a videoconference last evening (May 6, 2004).

Black, whose office of Coordinator for Counterterrorism in the State Department recently brought out the 2003 Report on Patterns of Global Terrorism, said besides Afghanistan, bin Laden's al-Qaeda has lately found a "safe haven" in Iran.

"Al-Qaeda fighters remain along the rough eastern border between Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal areas and regards Afghanistan as an important base of operations and continues its armed operations to US presence," he said, adding that the US-led coalition forces had worked towards elimination of terrorist camps in that country.

However, Black parried questions relating to similar camps still functioning in Pak-occupied Kashmir, North West Frontier Province and Balochistan training Islamic and Kashmiri militants.

Black said Indian Government, which was "steadfast" in its fight against the menace of which it had been a victim, should do more and provide more information on such groups.

He also evaded a question on why the Global Terrorism report had no mention of Bangladesh as a base for Northeastern insurgent outfits or why it stated that India had been subjected to attacks from "foreign-based" groups and not as those based in Pakistan.

However, the roving envoy said he would be visiting India soon to attend the meeting of the Indo-US Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism and exchange notes on the subject.

In dealing with his counterparts in the Indian Government, he said he was "trying to get a better understanding" of their point of view.

Indian authorities "could point to significant progress in the areas of legislation, finance and investigations", he said, adding New Delhi remained an important partner of Washington in the global war on terror.

"We fully appreciate the global significance of India, the key role it is playing against terrorism, of which it has been a victim ... we will strive to enhance closer cooperation with India," Black said.