WASHINGTON - A Pakistani-American taxi driver in Chicago has entered a plea agreement, admitting he attempted to provide money to a man linked to Qaeda, according to a media report.The US Justice Department said Raja Lahrasib Khan never posed an imminent domestic threat and remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing. He faces a possible 15 years in prison, but his plea agreement calls for five to eight years in prison and requires him to cooperate with the government.Lahrasib Khan immigrated to the United States in late 1970s. He admitted meeting Ilyas Kashmiri, a leader of the Kashmir independence movement in Pakistan, in the early to mid-2000s and again in 2008.“At the time of the second meeting, Khan knew or had reason to believe that Kashmiri was working with Qaeda, in addition to leading attacks against the Indian government in the Kashmir region,” the US attorney’s office in Chicago said in a press release. “During their 2008 meeting, Kashmiri told Khan that Osama bin Laden was alive, healthy and giving orders, and Khan gave Kashmiri approximately 20,000 Pakistani rupees ($200 to $250), which he intended Kashmiri to use to support attacks against India.”Prosecutors said Khan wired $930 to an individual in Pakistan and instructed that person to give $300 of it to Kashmiri.“Although Khan intended the funds to be used by Kashmiri to support attacks against India, he was also aware that Kashmiri was working with Qaeda,” the release said.The plea deal was too good to risk a trial for Khan, who became a naturalised citizen in 1988, his lawyer, Thomas Durkin, told reporters after the hearing.“I think it’s impossible to get a fair trial on terrorism charges,” said Durkin, a veteran criminal-defence lawyer who has defended several suspects charged with supporting terrorist groups in recent years.Khan entered US District Judge James Zagel’s courtroom in an orange prison jumpsuit and leg shackles. His wife, daughter, son and son-in-law joined a handful of reporters in the courtroom gallery. Asked by Zagel if he was in good health, Khan responded, “Not really,” saying he was taking medication for diabetes and arthritis.Khan grew up in the Azad Kashmir and had travelled there regularly to visit family since moving to the US in the 1970s, Durkin said. Khan was a staunch supporter of Kashmiri independence and thought he was backing separatist groups in Indian held Kashmir. Prosecutors said they had recordings of Khan discussing his plans on the phone and had installed bugs in Khan’s cab.