Osama has evidently sent people to the Gulf States to raise money for jihad among the tiny minority of extremists there. From the Gulf Daily News, with thanks to Khittiara:
KUWAIT CITY: Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is living in a safe place northeast of the Afghan capital under the protection of a tribe, Kuwait’s Al Rai Al Aam newspaper quoted Islamic sources as saying yesterday.
Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Omar is also living inside Afghanistan and has recently sent an envoy to three Gulf states, including Kuwait, to collect donations from Jihad (holy war) sympathisers, the sources said.
An unnamed person met Omar two weeks ago and also saw Bin Laden some two-and-a-half months ago and told the sources the Al Qaeda leader was in good spirits.
“Sheikh Abu Abdullah (Bin Laden) is in good health and high morale.
“He lives along with four people in a safe place with an Afghan tribe that provides him with all means of comfort and safety,” the sources quoted the man as saying.
“Sheikh Osama lives in an area northeast of Kabul and closely follows the military actions of his followers,” he added.
Bin Laden’s number two Ayman Al Zawahiri also lives in Afghanistan but in an area far away from where the Al Qaeda leader is hiding, the sources said.
The two leaders exchange information and co-ordinate through well-trusted men.
Both the Taliban and Al Qaeda are currently “regrouping” in preparation to launch “qualitative” attacks against US forces in Afghanistan, the sources added.