The US Directorate of National Intelligence has declassified the documents and pamphlets its raid force had picked up from Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin laden’s premises in Abbottabad after killing him in May 2011.
The documents — which reveal planning of attacks, training of jehadis to execute attack in various countries — also has a fleeting reference of India with regard to US President Barack Obama’s visit to New Delhi in November 2010.
In a letter to Osama in November 2010, his commander Mahmoud wrote to him that due to Obama’s visit to India there was pressure on Pakistan Army to carry out operations on the Al-Qaeda in North Waziristan, and how the pressure got eased after Obama flew out of India without visiting Pakistan. Mahmoud also talked about pressure the Americans were putting on the Pakistan Government following intercepted communications.
Further, the letters talk about preparing jehadis and stationing them in frontlines and entering Afghanistan. Invoices of purchase of artillery, training equipments and electronic items for training of Al-Qaeda cadres were also mentioned.
Beginning in 2008, Al-Qaeda external operations leaders and facilitators located in the Waziristan region of Pakistan tasked an England based man, three American operatives, and a Norway-based operative to conduct terrorist attacks in the United States and Europe. These operatives traveled to Pakistan and met with al-Qaeda leaders who trained them in the use of weapons and explosives. Al-Qaeda leadership based in Pakistan maintained operational contact with the three cells through email and phone.
The US government is using these documents in the trial of the Al-Qaeda men caught by it. They contain Al-Qaeda correspondence between Osama bin laden, his Chief of External Operations Saleh al-Masri, his General Manager Sheikh Mahmoud, and others.
letters from Mahmoud, reveal how the organisation was sending jehadis to Britain, Russia and Europe to carry out attacks. Some conversations also reflected frustration after attacks did not materiliase in Denmark and other places.
“We sent a European group of three brothers some time ago to carry out an operation there. The priority was set for Denmark and for American targets. We lost contact with them,” Mahmoud wrote.
The letters also reveal how huge money was claimed as ransom for release of Afghan Ambassador who remained their captive for two years. Apart from money, he was also exchanged for jihadis imprisoned in Afghanistan.
letters also reveal how Al-Qaeda tried to reach out to Pakistani Army which was gunning for them. “We are aiming our war against the Americans in Afghanistan. If the Pakistani Army and government leaves us alone, we will leave them alone. If not - if they direct any harm against us, if they do not leave us be, if they stand with the Americans in the espionage war and so on - then they will see amazing events in Islamabad, Bandy and elsewhere ... Through intermediaries (Jihadists who have relations with the state, the government, intelligence services, and others), we have let slip that we (al-Qaeda) have readied enormous, earthshaking, destructive operations within Pakistan. But the leadership gave the orders to halt the operations and de-escalate if Pakistan stops causing us harm,” Mahmoud revealed.