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US Intelligence officials consider Saad bin Laden to be a mid-level al-Qaeda operative who fled to Iran after the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
Two years later, Iran's Government placed him under what US officials call ‘permissive’ house arrest.
Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell told reporters yesterday that Saad departed Iran in September and is probably hiding in Pakistan, where his father is also believed to be, the CNN reported.
McConnell did not say whether the younger bin Laden escaped detention or was allowed to leave Iran.
He indicated that he was not troubled by the move, suggesting the United States has a better chance of getting rid of Saad if he is in Pakistan, the report said.
"It is better in my world if they are in places where we have access," McConnell said.
Questions about Saad's whereabouts were prompted yesterday by a Treasury Department release that announced financial sanctions had been imposed on bin Laden's son and three other al-Qaeda members with ties to Iran. The statement said, "As of September 2008, it was possible that Saad bin Laden was no longer in Iranian custody."
The Treasury Department described Saad "as part of a small group of al-Qaeda members that was involved in managing the terrorist organisation from Iran."
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Well Pakistan is a safe heaven for all Al-qaeda terrorists and all other Islamic terrorists of the world. George Bush was in vain searching and hitting for Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan. In fact Bin Ladens are living safely in Pakistan. Parvez Musharraf has fooled George W Bush and cheated a large sum of money in the name of Ally with America of their War Against Terror.I f President Obama realizez the fact and take stringent action against Pakistan.
Pakistani leaders get billions in the name of fighting against terrorism. But where is the fight? Terrorists are living and getting training in Pakistan and pakistani leaders are very soft towards them? Why ? is there any nexus between these leaders and these bad people or something else? but every one agrees that pakistan is a very dangerous place on this planet.