Siddiqui's and her children's whereabouts and activities from March 2003 to July 2008 are a matter of dispute. On 1 April 2003, local newspapers reported, and Pakistan interior ministry confirmed, that a woman had been taken into custody on terrorism charges.
[28] The
Boston Globe described "sketchy" Pakistani news reports saying she had been detained for questioning by Pakistani authorities and the FBI.
[43][58] However, a couple of days later, both the Pakistan government and the FBI publicly stated they were uninvolved in her disappearance.
[28] Her sister Fauzia claimed Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat said that her sister had been released and would be returning home "shortly".
[28]
In 2003–04, the FBI and the Pakistani government said they did not know where Siddiqui was.
[20][61][62] US Attorney General
John Ashcroft described her as a "clear and present danger to the US".
[58]
On 26 May 2004, the US listed her among the seven "most wanted" al-Qaeda fugitives.
[58][63] One day before the announcement,
The New York Times cited the
Department of Homeland Security saying there were no current risks; American Democrats accused the Bush administration of attempting to divert attention from plummeting poll numbers and to push the failings of the
Invasion of Iraq off the front pages.
[64]
According to her ex-husband, after the global alert for her was issued, Siddiqui went into hiding and worked for al-Qaeda.
[20][47][65] During her disappearance Khan said he saw her at Islamabad airport in April 2003 as she disembarked from a flight with their son; he said he helped
Inter-Services Intelligence identify her. He said he again saw her two years later, in a Karachi traffic jam
Yea she came in and out of the country without ISI knowing and needing his help...very much like ISI ...keep buying crap thrown at you...this way tomorrow they take you we just say yes we will buy any crap you throw at us!