Florida Student Arrested in Pakistan
Pakistani authorities announced on Tuesday that they had arrested an American student. The student from Florida was caught in Pakistan’s tribal region, where foreigners are not allowed to travel.
Jude Kenan was arrested in the Charsadda district of the Mohmand Agency in North Waziristan, said Pakistan Police Station House Officer Qayum Khan.
Kenan was arrested when he tried to leave the tribal area.
Authorities said Kenan had a camera, laptop and dagger with him when he was arrested. When asked about his purpose in the tribal region, Kenan said he was there to meet one “Habibullah.”
Habibullah was the name of an Afghan militant who died in U.S. custody in 2002. The name also has a religious meaning: it means “God’s beloved” or “God’s favorite” in Arabic, giving one the impression that Kenan may very well be a convert to Islam, who traveled the tribal region to join forces with the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Pakistani authorities refuse to give details about the interrogations, however, meaning one should be cautious and not jump to conclusions. He could also be a student with an exaggerated taste for adventure, or a wannabe journalist.
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