Washington, Jun 15 (AP) The terrorist described as the linchpin in the hunt for Osama bin Laden has rejoined al-Qaida after the Bush administration released him from a secret CIA prison under pressure from Pakistan, according to former and current US intelligence officials.
Shortly after the CIA decided to close the secret prisons, the US intelligence agency returned al-Qaida operative Hassan Ghul in 2006 to his native Pakistan, which had been demanding his release since his capture about two years earlier.
Pakistan held Ghul for at least a year before he was released, eventually making his way back to al-Qaida to help with operations against the US, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because details about Ghul's case remain classified.