From Algeria to Iraq and to Yemen, one name crops again and again in the demands of Islamists hostage-takers Aafia Siddiqui- the Pakistani scientist, jailed in America for allegedly attacking Americans in Afghanistan. The Islamist groups from Al-Qaeda and its offshoots to Islamic State (IS), have sought the release of 42-year-old (AAfia) in exchange for captives most recently US journalist James Foley, beheaded by IS in August. Aafia'a story, one of the most intriguing, 'war on terror era' began in March 2003 when when Al-Qaeda number three and alleged main 9/11 architect Sheikh Khalid Mahmood was arrested in Karachi. Soon after his arrest, Aafia- the suspect of Al-Qaeda links by the US, disappeared with her three children in Karachi. The few US media reports described her the first woman suspected of links to Osama Bin Laden network, earned her moniker as 'Lady Al Qaeda'. Five years later she turned up in Afghanistan where she was arrested by local forces and handed over to US. During interogation she grabbed a rifle and fired on Us soldiers screaming 'death to America' and "i will kill Americans'. though solders remained unhurt but she was sentenced for 86 years in prison. Much about the case remains unclear. Where did she remain between her disappearance in 2003 and reappearance in 2008? She was married to Amjad Khan , Pakistani doctor and had three kids. She got PhD from Texas in neuroscience. She got divorce from husband and some say she remarried Ammar Al Baluchi, though her family denies it. However, it is a fact that she was handed over to US by gen Parvez Musharraf.
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