White Throated Sparrow

by | Dec 20, 2017 | Sparrows

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Amin Muhammad Ul Haq Saam Khan (born 1960)[1] is an Afghan national and a trained doctor. He is reported to have been a former Osama bin Laden bodyguard and a security coordinator. Haq is believed to have escaped from Tora Bora with Osama bin Laden.[2]

Arrests

2008 arrest

Haq was reported to have been captured in Lahore, Pakistan, in early January 2008.[citation needed] He was released from Pakistani custody in September 2011 citing a lack of evidence. Pakistani officials stated that Haq's connections to al Qaeda "could not be proved," and he is also "not in good health." CBS News and NPR cited Haq's release was a trigger for challenges of Pakistan's commitment to fight terrorism.[3] However, British daily The Telegraph cites a senior Pakistani security official, who told the paper Haq was "arrested mistakenly, therefore, the police failed to prove any charge of his association with Osama bin Laden and the court set him free." Analyst Rahimullah Yusufzai speculated, "They could only have released him with the say so of America or if maybe there really was no evidence or he was not that important."[4]

In late August 2021, Haq publicly returned to Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, hailed by his entourage, in clandestinity no more.[5][6]

2024 arrest

Haq was arrested in July 2024 during a raid by the Counter Terrorism Department in Sarai Alamgir, Punjab, Pakistan.[7] According to the police, he was planning attacks in the Punjab province before his arrest.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ "View UN Notices - Individuals".
  2. ^ Bill Roggio (2011-09-21). "Pakistan frees al Qaeda commander: report". Long War Journal. Retrieved 2012-05-06. Dr. Amin al Haq, who served as the security coordinator of Osama bin Laden's Black Guard, was recently released by Pakistani authorities, according to a report in the Afghan Islamic Press, a jihadist news organization based in Peshawar. Al Haq was released from Pakistani custody several weeks ago, his family members told the Afghan Islamic Press.
  3. ^ Mark Memmott (September 2011). "Reports: Pakistan Has Freed Bin Laden's Former Bodyguard". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2012-05-06. As CBS adds, the release 'raises more questions about Pakistan's commitment to tackle Islamic militant groups which operate within parts of the nation with near impunity.'
  4. ^ "Pakistan frees Osama bin Laden bodyguard". CBS News. September 29, 2011. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  5. ^ Guido Olimpio (31 August 2021). "Afghanistan, ricompare Amin ul Haq, il vecchio compagno di lotta di Osama bin Laden". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021. Nulla di clandestino, è ricomparso in pubblico osannato dai suoi seguaci
  6. ^ "Osama bin Laden's former aide Amin-ul-Haq returns to Afghanistan". 30 August 2021.
  7. ^ Guramani, Nadir (19 July 2024). "CTD Punjab arrests senior Al-Qaeda leader in intelligence-based operation". DAWN.
  8. ^ Dogar, Babar (19 July 2024). "Pakistan says it arrested an al-Qaida leader who was a close aide to Osama bin Laden". The Associated Press. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Pakistan arrests Al-Qaeda leader listed by United Nations". Reuters. July 19, 2024.
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