U.S. Citizen Being Tried On Spying Charges In Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (IslamOnline) - In a move that seems like a reply to the recent indictment in New York of individuals allegedly linked to Osama bin Laden for the U.S. embassy bombings in Africa in 1998, Taliban authorities are trying a U.S. citizen for spying.
UPI news agency reports that Richard Picket, a computer expert working for an aid agency was arrested last year after an alleged Kurdish spy, Abdur Rahim Janko, revealed he had contacts with him.
Afghan Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil says that Picket is being tried in an Islamic court in Kabul.
Recently, Mutawakil informed the Middle East Broadcasting television station that his government has collected "enough evidence against Packet" and has sent "his case to an Islamic court for trial."
The U.S. embassy in Islamabad is trying to ascertain the identity of Picket and the reasons for his arrest.
Taliban authorities also claim they arrested two Kurd civilians last year who were recruited to spy on bin Laden and other Arabs by Israeli agents. The Kurds claimed Picket was their Kabul contact.
