Monday, April 30, 2007

Fuqra/Taliban/Qaeda Associate Khawaja Set for Release, Arrested Again


My last post in early April discussed the case of one Khalid Khawaja, an ex-ISI officer in Pakistan who is now being held in prison for connections to a radical neo-Taliban cabal in Islamabad. He has been held by the government since January and was set for release last week in a concession to the radical parties threatening disruption if he was not let go. And, once again, upon his very release, he was arrested again on different charges. So, we shall see how this plays out.

Now, for readers of this blog who may or may not be familiar with Mr. Khawaja, a few highlights from his resume...Former Pakistani Air Force; former ISI; close associate of Osama bin Laden - has described him as "like an angel" - even named his son Osama bin Khawaja; has called George W. Bush a "terrorist"; known trainer of jihadis, poses as humanitarian human rights activist; close associate of Sheikh Mubarak Ali Gilani, head of Al Fuqra, a covert militant group operating in Pakistan and also in the US under the cover of a group called Muslims of the Americas; quoted as saying, if Gilani is pushed to the point, he would declare jihad on America that would "blow like a volcano"; was last contact for Daniel Pearl before he was abducted and murdered; associate of neo-Taliban radicals linked to radical mosque & madrassa in Islamabad.

Below are the two latest articles from the Daily Times of Pakistan which further discuss the details of Khawaja's current legal troubles.

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