A recent security operation in Pakistan has unveiled interesting details about Al-Qaeda's funding of its operatives. A recent security operation in the lawless tribal zones of Pakistan resulted not only in the arrest of several militants linked to Al-Qaeda, but also revealed the terrorist network's ability to channel funds from one place to another and maintain a pension system for its cadres. Counter-terrorism officials in Pakistan said they learned about the financial dealings of Osama bin Laden's network when they arrested two Alegerian militants in the Pakistani city of Peshawar in April.According to officials, Al-Qaeda runs a sophisticated network for transferring money where and when it is required for various operations, as well as for payment of its operatives. For example, when Pakistani authorities initiated a dialogue with tribesmen in South Waziristan several months ago in an effort to restore peace in the tribal areas, local tribesmen told them that they had obtained huge loans from the terrorist group and had no option but to offer its members shelter or to work for its interests in the region. The Pakistan Army later paid US$533,000 to some of the most-wanted militants in the area of South Waziristan to enable them to clear their debts and bury their guns. Insiders said Al-Qaeda paid out 10 to 12 times that amount to other militants in the last few years in order to keep up the momentum in the region.
Over the years Al-Qaeda has established a solid network to both generate and transfer funds. Experts believe militants have various sources through which they obtain money, including direct donations from wealthy businessmen committed to their cause, donations collected through zakat [poor due] as well as contributions from religious groups. New evidence indicates that these militant organisations have also been raising funds from drug trafficking and money channelled through charity organisations which, experts believe, have became important sources of funds for these networks.