CHICAGO – A Pakistani-American cabbie has pleaded guilty to charges of funnelling money to Al-Qaida commander Ilyas Kashmiri, who is now believed to have been killed, for terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir and faces up to 15 years in jail. Raja Lahrasib Khan (58), who was born and raised in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir before he migrated to the US in the 1970s, pleaded guilty to one count relating to material support to a foreign terrorist organisation.
Khan, who was arrested in March 2010, faces maximum 15 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for May 30. After his arrest, he was charged with two counts of attempting to provide material support to terrorist leader Kashmiri but prosecutors dropped one of them under a plea deal.
Khan admitted that he met Kashmiri, who was also involved in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir, in Pakistan in the early to mid-2000s and again in 2008.
At the time of the second meeting, Khan knew or had reason to believe that Kashmiri was working with Al-Qaida, in addition to leading attacks against the Indian government in Kashmir, the Justice Department said.
During their 2008 meeting, Kashmiri told Khan that Osama bin Laden was alive, healthy and giving orders, and Khan gave Kashmiri approximately 20,000 Pakistani rupees (approximately $200-250), which he intended Kashmiri to use to support attacks against India.
The Justice Department said on November 23, 2009, Khan sent approximately 77,917 rupees (approximately $930) from Chicago to an individual in Pakistan, via Western Union, and then directed the individual by phone to give Kashmiri approximately $300.
Although Khan intended the funds to be used by Kashmiri to support attacks against India, he was also aware that Kashmiri was working with Al-Qaida, the Department said.
