DID Press: Declassified documents released by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) show that the Taliban warned Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader, to strengthen his security following the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 in 1999.
The information was included in one of the U.S. president’s Daily Briefs (PDBs) during the administration of Bill Clinton. The documents comprise 71 intelligence reports released to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
According to an intelligence report dated January 3, 2000, the Taliban warned bin Laden to increase his security following the hostage crisis in Kandahar, amid concerns that the crisis could be exploited to launch an operation against him.
Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 was hijacked on December 24, 1999, while flying from Kathmandu to New Delhi by members of the militant group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and diverted to Kandahar. The crisis ended on December 31 after India released three imprisoned militants and handed them over to the Taliban.
The newly released documents also indicate that U.S. intelligence agencies had information before the September 11 attacks about possible plans by bin Laden to carry out attacks in several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, India and Pakistan.
Another intelligence report presented to Clinton on August 28, 1998, said bin Laden was planning attacks in several regions and warned that al-Qaeda networks operating in North America, Europe and East Asia increased the potential for attacks against U.S. interests in those areas.