Saudi money used in terror: Aghan official

“We can trace it back as far as an entry point in Waziristan,” said Mohammed Mustafa Massoudi,the DG of Fintraca in Kabul. “Why would anyone want to put such money into Waziristan? Only one reason — terrorism”.

Although Saudi Arabia — the home of the bin Laden family — is considered a key ally in the war against terror,a US government report last year said that private Saudi backers were the chief source of finance for the Taliban. Moreover,influx of Saudi money is on the increase. The £920 million,or five billion Saudi riyals,monitored by FinTraca since 2006 have gone up,peaking this year. Most of it entered Afghanistan through the Pakistani tribal area,in particular North Waziristan.

According to a report in The Times,the revelations bring to light the difficulties in dividing the Taliban from al-Qaeda influence and the continuing involvement of Saudi donors in sponsoring the insurgency.

Officials,however,did not disclose the precise route taken by the Saudi money before arriving in North Waziristan. “That is a question for Pakistan to answer,” a Fin Traca official said. Massoudi said the Saudi riyals were moved from Waziristan to Peshawar,where Pakistanis were used to exchange the cash for local currency or dollars.