The Counter Terrorism Department in Punjab province of Pakistan has claimed the arrest of a close associate of Osama Bin Laden, Al-Qaida head.
Officials said on Friday that Aminul Haq was arrested from Saraye Alamgir near Jehlum city, accusing him of planning “sabotage activities” and seeking to “target important installations” in the country.
“The arrest of Amin Ul-Haq is a major victory in the ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in Pakistan and worldwide,” a statement from Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department said.
He was listed by the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations as an associate of Al-Qaeda and Bin Laden, the head of Punjab’s counter-terrorism department, Usman Akram Gonadal, said in a press conference.
“He resurfaced after the withdrawal of western NATO forces (from Afghanistan). He visited Afghanistan in August and he began his efforts to reorganize Al-Qaeda.”
US troops backed by NATO toppled the Taliban’s first regime in 2001 for refusing to hand over Al-Qaeda militants behind the 9/11 attacks.
Bin Laden was later killed in [Abbottabad] Pakistan in a nighttime US operation in 2011.
The Taliban took back power in Afghanistan in 2021, kicking out the foreign-backed government after two decades of fighting US and NATO troops.
Amin Ul Haq, reported worked as a security supervisor for Osama Bin Ladin, the founder of Al-Qaeda and mastermind of the 9/11 attacks Osama Bin Laden.
