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Maps and Pictures: * Map and picture from Washingtonpost.com (Dec. 10, 2001): **http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/graphics/attack/zone_32.html *Maps from Latimes.com (Dec. 7, 2001): **http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-120701hunt-g.graphic |
It was originally built by extending natural caves, with assistance of the United States (probably the CIA) in the early 1980s for use by mujahedin during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
In 2001 it was in use by al-Qaeda and was suspected to be the headquarters of Osama bin Laden. It was described in newspapers as a suitable lair for a villain out of the James Bond movies: variously as a multi-storeyed cave complex harnessing hydroelectric power from mountain streams, or a lower-rise dwelling with hotel-like corridors capable of sheltering more than 1000. It supposedly also contained a large cache of ammunition, such as [stinger missile]?s left over from the 1980s. To complete the James Bond scenario, al-Qaeda were suspected of developing nuclear and biological? weapons.
The Northern Alliance and U.S. fought to capture it from al_Qaeda in December 2001.
Maps and Pictures: