 Aziz had a long history of making trips to Afghanistan to treat wounded mujahideen, dating back to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, when the CIA supported them in their battle against the Soviet Union.On October 21, 2002, Aziz was seized by American security officials, who held him, and interrogated him for a month.Following his release Aziz acknowledged his travels to Afghanistan to provide medical care, and acknowledged that those he treated had included senior members of al-Qaeda, including Osama bin Laden.