News

Pakistani brothers released from Guantanamo after 20 years and sent home

The two were arrested from Karachi in September 2002 by Pakistani officials and handed over to US: Younger brother was brutally tortured at CIA overseas prison

February 24, 2023 09:45 AM


Two Pakistani brothers, Abdul and Mohammed Rabbani, have been freed from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay after more than 20 years in detention and repatriated, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Abdul Rabbani, who was born in 1967, is believed to have been one of the oldest inmates at the facility on a US base in Cuba.

US officials accused him of working for avowed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and operating an Al-Qaeda safe house in Karachi, but his detainee assessment indicates he was not believed to have had "specific insight into Al-Qaeda operational plans."

Mohammed Rabbani, born in 1969, was accused of recruiting his older brother into extremist circles. He is believed to have organized travel and funds for KSM and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the mastermind of the October 2000 suicide bombing of the USS Cole missile destroyer, which left 17 US sailors dead.

The pair were arrested in Karachi in September 2002 by Pakistani authorities, according to a Senate intelligence committee report that also names Mohammed Rabbani as one of 17 detainees subjected to torture at overseas CIA secret prisons, known as black sites.

Both men arrived at Guantanamo Bay in 2004 and were approved for release in 2021, the Defense Department said in a statement.

Their release brings to 32 the number of detainees left at Guantanamo Bay. Of those, 18 are eligible for transfer, three are eligible for review, nine are on trial in US military commissions and two have been convicted.



Most Read

  1. Lahore Board extends due date of admission fee for Intermediate 2nd Annual Exam Lahore Board extends due date of admission fee for Intermediate 2nd Annual Exam
  2. Port Qasim Karachi receives its biggest ever cargo vessel ‘DP World’ Port Qasim Karachi receives its biggest ever cargo vessel ‘DP World’
  3. Visa rejection rumors: Ducky Bhai and Momin Saqib in extreme anger Visa rejection rumors: Ducky Bhai and Momin Saqib in extreme anger
  4. Hania Aamir recites Astaghfar after watching Yashma Gill’s bold video Hania Aamir recites Astaghfar after watching Yashma Gill’s bold video
  5. Pakistani rupee’s marathon-run against US dollar continues in interbank Pakistani rupee’s marathon-run against US dollar continues in interbank
  6.  Lux Style Awards 2023 nominations out now  Lux Style Awards 2023 nominations out now

Opinion

  1. India’s invasion of Kashmir is violation of UN Charter
    India’s invasion of Kashmir is violation of UN Charter

    By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai

  2. World Suicide Prevention Day: Creating Hope Through Action
    World Suicide Prevention Day: Creating Hope Through Action

    By Dr Asif Channer

  3. Gender equality: A pre-requisite for a balanced society
    Gender equality: A pre-requisite for a balanced society

    By Mehak Sabir

  4. Time to move on and build a better Pakistan
    Time to move on and build a better Pakistan

    By Murtaza Rafiq Bhutto

  5. Asif Zardari as next PM could potentially unite political parties for economic stability
    Asif Zardari as next PM could potentially unite political parties for economic stability

    By Rehan Khan Ghauri