Archive · 13 Sep 2026
CIA Documents Say Bin Laden Considered Attacking India Before 9/11
Newly released CIA papers describe what US officials knew about Osama bin Laden before 9/11.
One paper from August 1998 said bin Laden was considering attacks in India and other countries.
It did not say which place in India would be attacked.
It also did not give an attack date or a detailed plan.
The paper said al-Qaeda still had training camps and communication networks.
It warned that bin Laden could use people and allied groups in at least 60 countries.
The CIA also reportedly knew that some al-Qaeda members were living in the United States.
The papers show that officials had warned about the growing threat before the September 11 attacks.
A 1998 CIA brief said Osama bin Laden considered attacks in India and several other countries.
The list also included Pakistan, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Uganda and possibly Nigeria.
The documents did not identify a specific Indian target, attack date or detailed operational plan.
The CIA released more than 70 presidential intelligence briefs containing over 100 pages on bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
The briefs show that US intelligence repeatedly warned about al-Qaeda before the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- Who
- Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and US intelligence officials are identified in the documents.
- What
- CIA documents said bin Laden considered targeting India and other countries before the September 11 attacks.
- When
- The key intelligence brief was dated August 28, 1998; the documents cover 1998 to 2001 and were released on Friday.
- Where
- India was among the countries listed; the documents also discuss al-Qaeda activity in Afghanistan, North America, Europe and East Asia.
- Why
- The briefs assessed the continuing threat from bin Laden and al-Qaeda and warned about their ability to conduct attacks.
- Key document
- A presidential intelligence brief titled “Bin Ladin Terrorist Network Still a Threat”
- Brief date
- August 28, 1998
- Documents released
- More than 70 presidential intelligence briefs and over 100 pages
- Countries listed
- India, Pakistan, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Uganda and possibly Nigeria
- India-specific details
- No specific target, attack date or detailed operational plan was identified
- Threat reach
- Bin Laden could reportedly call on individuals and allied groups in at least 60 countries
- 9/11 attacks
- On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four passenger aircraft
