Laden ‘Healthy’ and ‘Giving Orders’, Says Arrested Qaida Operative

A Pakistani-origin taxi driver, who was arrested by FBI in Chicago on charges of providing funds to the al-Qaida, has revealed that Osama bin Laden is ‘healthy’ and ‘giving orders’ to deputies, reported PTI.

A 35-page complaint affidavit was filed against Raja Lahrasib Khan, arrested on Friday for allegedly providing material support to terrorism and funds to Al-Qaida, said report.

Report said that the complaint affidavit gives details of conversations recorded between him and an undercover law enforcement agent about his association with Al-Qaida operative Ilyas Kashmiri, also the chief of HuJI.

In conversations between Khan and the undercover agent recorded on February 23, the taxi driver claims that Kashmiri, whom he calls as ‘Lala’, told him that Laden is ‘healthy…perfect’, report said.

“… I asked the Lala about him (Osama). And he (Kashmiri) says he’s (Osama) healthy, he’s leading,” he said according to the affidavit against him submitted in a court in Chicago.

Khan also told that he thought Laden was either ‘sick’ or ‘Shaheed’ but Kashmiri ‘says no… he’s perfect, healthy, and he’s leading and he’s giving the orders … he’s OK, he’s in safe hands. That’s what, Lala said to me, you know…”

Later in a conversation around March 17, the undercover agent met Khan and an ‘Individual B’ at restaurant in Chicago.

During the meeting, Khan told the agent that he knew Kashmiri worked for Al-Qaida because he had asked him about ‘the big Lala. Osama…’, said report.

Khan asked Kashmiri if Osama was ‘alive or is he shaheed’.

“He (Kashmiri) said no, he’s OK. Allahamdullah (praise to God) he’s healthy and…he is commanding everything,” Kashmiri said according to the conversation.

Besides, Khan told the undercover agent that he had never met Laden ‘personally’, he wanted to meet him, report said.

“… Osama bin Laden. I never met… I want (to) meet him… I wanna see him. Before the, even the war start, I was going to Pakistan. But then 9/11 happens, and I didn’t go.”

Khan said that bin Laden gives orders to Kashmiri, ‘then Kashmiri gives the order to ‘mujahideen’… Al-Qaida and Taliban’, report said.

In another conversation, Khan said, “I love that Osama bin Laden, he says the last 50 years we have been, tasting… now America will taste that, and Americans will feel the pain they have been feeling.”