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| Terror Networks |
| Two suspected al-Qaida arrested in Pakistan |
| 2002-05-29 |
| Pakistani police helped by FBI agents arrested two suspected al-Qaida members in a raid Wednesday, police and family members said. "Those arrested from the residential area of Peshawar are from Algeria," an Interior Ministry official told The Associated Press. "They have been shifted to an interrogation center in Peshawar for investigations." Must have happened too quickly for the inside men to tip them off... Police said they believed at least one of the men, Abu Abdullah, 35, was an important member of Osama bin Laden's terrorist network and was in charge of Islamic schools in eastern Afghanistan during the Taliban rule, but fled to Pakistan when the U.S.-led coalition began air strikes. Abdullah is married to a Pakistani woman, and has lived in Peshawar since December, they said. He's the OIC of training and indoctrination. Musta been hard for him to leave the ruling class in Afghanistan... "My son-in-law (Abdullah) was not involved in any crime in Pakistan," said Maulana Sufi Hamid Gul. Gul has appealed to the government for his release, saying Abdullah "was just a teacher." "In fact, he's one of the best explosives and ordnance teachers they have..." "Four Americans and heavy contingent of the police thoroughly searched our house after arresting Abdullah and his Arab friend," Gul told The Associated Press. "We are extremely worried about the safety of Abdullah." He's probably "falling down the stairs" right this moment... Police say Abdullah gave shelter to an unidentified al-Qaida fighter in Peshawar, who was also arrested at his house. One of his former students? Since they were both from Algeria — what the hell does Algeria have to do with Pakistan or Afghanistan? — it's more likely they were old war buddies and he just stopped by to talk about old times and maybe to beat Abu Abdullah's wife for him... On Tuesday, nine Arab men were arrested on suspicion of links with al-Qaida, and they are being interrogated by police and intelligence officials in Peshawar. Just nabbing them all over, are we? Mullah Omar must be calving... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 I'd figure that these Talibanistas just didn't get the idea that their appointed duty place is now in Kashmir and that Peshawar is no longer a safe sanctuary. Of course, going back to the NW Frontier is on the books for 2004-5 when the US gets bored with chasing bandits in Afghanistan. |
| Posted by: Tom Roberts 2002-05-30 05:59:14 |