U.S. Citizen Wanted to Join the Taliban, Officials Say

Email

Print

Share

November 28, 2006 6:27 PM

A United States citizen and a Pakistani national who overstayed his visa have been charged with planning to provide aid and financial support to the Taliban.

The two Houston-area men, Kobie Diallo Williams and Adnan Babar Mirza, have been indicted by a federal grand jury and have been charged with attempting to obtain firearms and training so they could join the Taliban and fight against U.S. and coalition forces.

According to the indictment, in April 2005, Williams and Mirza agreed that they should travel to the region and fight with the Taliban because they viewed U.S. and coalition forces as invaders. 

The two allegedly sought firearms training in the Houston area on at least eight occasions between May 2005 and June 2006. Mirza was in possession of an Armalite M15A4 rifle, a .308 rifle and a 12-gage shotgun, the indictment states.  Since he had entered the U.S. in August 2001 on a student visa that expired on Dec. 12, 2005, Mirza, under U.S. law, was prohibited from possessing any firearms. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the men were also in possession of a Glock pistol and other weapons.

The indictment unsealed today states, "Williams and Mirza would and did meet at various shooting ranges and camp sites in the Southern District of Texas for the purpose of conducting firearms and paramilitary training to hone their skills with weapons to assist fighters engaging United States forces in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq."

In addition to the alleged firearms training, the men also agreed to provide financial support to the Taliban and their families, the indictment alleges. According to the indictment, Williams sent $350 to Taliban members and their family members on two occasions.

"The expressed goal was to aid the Taliban by training to carry out jihad against coalition troops in the Middle East," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Roderick Beverly.

Since it has been deemed a terrorist organization, federal law prohibits any financial or other support to the Taliban, the violation of which carries a maximum sentence of five years.  In today's arraignment, Williams pleaded guilty while Mirza, who was arrested last Wednesday by federal agents for overstaying his visa, is scheduled to have his detention hearing in the next several days.