Bin Laden bounty rises

last updated 8 January 2015

Islamabad

U.S. officials have launched a campaign in Afghanistan and Pakistan to encourage locals to turn in Osama bin Laden. A $25 million reward for information about the al Qaida leader was offered when the Afghan campaign started in 2001, but it wasn’t well publicized, and most locals had no way to contact U.S. officials. This week, the State Department began running ads in Pakistani newspapers, detailing how to give information and claim the reward, which is set to double at the end of this month. The move reflects a growing suspicion that bin Laden may be hiding in an urban area. “What we’re looking for,” said Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), “is some young Pashtun, living in a town, who knows the value of $25 million and can figure out how to reach us safely.”