US Congress pushes for Dr Shakil Afridi's release: report

Dawn.com Published February 26, 2015

WASHINGTON: The US Congress on Wednesday discussed a prohibition on giving Pakistan aid worth $500 million while pressing for the release of Dr Shakil Afridi, said a report published on the BBC.

The US State Department budget in 2016 for international affairs recommended approximately $900 million for Pakistan, out of which $500 million is for countering terrorism.

In order for the budget to be passed, the Congress must approve it with US Secretary of State John Kerry present to answer all questions by Congressmen regarding the budget.

Take a look at: Shakil Afridi: From government doctor to anti-state agent

"Despite this the administration wants to give this country $500 million, who has slapped us in the face by keeping Afridi in jail," said Rohrabacher.

Also read: Shakil Afridi’s family wants immediate ‘evacuation’: report

Dr Shakil Afridi, the 51-year old physician is considered a hero in the United States for his role in the May 2011 SEAL Team 6 raid that killed the Al Qaeda leader.

In response to the Congressman, Kerry said that the matter was raised before former president Asif Ali Zardari and current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that keeping Afridi in jail is an injustice and against the principles of the US which the country upholds.

"This matter can be solved through repeated talks and diplomacy," explained Kerry.

Afridi has been sentenced to jail for 23 years for allegedly having links with terrorist groups. In the previous budget as well, around three million dollars were withheld to pressurise Pakistan to free Afridi.

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Rameez

Feb 26, 2015 12:20pm

OK, Americas enemy Our Enemy, But our Enemy is not americas enemy until and unless is poses direct threat to the USA ! WOW !

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smash

Feb 26, 2015 12:23pm

A lawmaker from California Dana Rohrabacher shared his views and said that America's biggest friends are those who consider America's enemy, their enemy. He added that the man who helped America find Osama bin Laden is held in jail in Pakistan. "Despite this the administration wants to give this country $50 million, who has slapped us in the face by keeping Afridi in jail," said Rohrabacher. Need more people like Dana Rohrabacher who have the guts to call Spade a Spade. This sentencing should have been a wake up call to america which continues to "aid" pakistan who in turn uses the same money to help the likes of OBL..

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Tanveer

Feb 26, 2015 12:30pm

Why are we holding him when we have been claiming that OBL was a drama??????

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kapil

Feb 26, 2015 12:44pm

Dont be blackmailed by USA its matter of Pakistan.

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Ayubi

Feb 26, 2015 12:45pm

Hey, america has killed Osama Binladen 10 times + confirmed his death,i think Osama is a gamer and he re spawns every time.I think now USA will see him in Iran, i bet.

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Abdulla Hussin

Feb 26, 2015 12:46pm

When elections are rigged, when government is formed by external support then who can refuse to honor bad demands.

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kind-hearted

Feb 26, 2015 12:48pm

why only muslims have meer jafer, meer sadiq and shakeel afridi and not in any other

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Taimur

Feb 26, 2015 12:49pm

He should spend his remaining days in prison and never be released. He violated Pakistani law and not to forget its because of him no one wants to get their children vaccinated for polio now. Americans would have done the same.

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Justice

Feb 26, 2015 01:01pm

I am sure US wouldn't want Pakistan or for that matter any other country in the world to interfere in their judicial system, therefore they shouldn't in Pakistan's. The threat of withholding Aid is their idea of DEMOCRACY which they continue to preach to the rest of the world. lol

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Mohammad Iqbal

Feb 26, 2015 01:03pm

OK. Why only Dr. Afridi. Kerry forgot Musharraf whom Bush junior called at mignight to inquire his intentions of joining the war on terror and the ex general served better than Dr. Afridi.

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Shamain

Feb 26, 2015 01:05pm

@kind-hearted didnt that rss man killed gandhi, remmeber?? you have somany more i can list

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nadeem qazi

Feb 26, 2015 01:11pm

What about Dr Afia Siddiqui ???? is our government doing any thing or we cant talk to our bosses ??

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Ati Khan

Feb 26, 2015 01:11pm

Are we talking about the same US that helped Raymond Davis flee Pakistan instead of facing justice in Pakistani court? Beside, Shakil Afridi is a Pakistani citizens and should be dealt with however Pakistan sees it fit & Pakistan should tell likes of Dana Rohrabacher to shove it.

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Nadeem

Feb 26, 2015 01:17pm

The guy Afridi is a TRAITOR for us. Should never be released. This particular American lawmaker has been very active in the affairs related to Pakistan. Is there a reason?

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adnan

Feb 26, 2015 01:19pm

@nadeem qazi pls. you think that dr. afia was a friend of pakistan?

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UFO

Feb 26, 2015 01:25pm

This man is solely responsible for the failure of polio campaign in the aftermath of fake polio vaccine drive, terminally damaging already fragile peoples' trust on the genuine campaign. He should be made an example.

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Abdulla Hussin

Feb 26, 2015 01:44pm

Simple solution, exchange Dr. Afia with Dr. Shakil. Both will get freedom, happy ending.

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Shakil

Feb 26, 2015 01:53pm

A person who works for a foreign spy agency is normally a traitor to his homeland! He is Pakistani citizen committed treason within his country, he is convicted by Pakistani courts, where does USA fit into this equation? It was shame Raymond Davis was escorted free after killing people in broad day light, that was enough! So stay out. Releasing such traitors will encourage others to feel safe to commit treason against own country!

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Paggri Sanbhaal

Feb 26, 2015 01:53pm

Afrida is in jail who had helped someone to nab OBL while mulla aziz is free..mindboggling.

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Pakistani

Feb 26, 2015 01:55pm

I dont think the US would release prisioners in their jails who spied for a foreign power (like Israel for example, Pollard). Anyway I think China has offered Pakistan $42bn to develop its economy. We want to be good friends with the US, but if Afridi is an issue for them (and by the way a lot of Pakistani kids are getting polio because he fronted a false CIA vaccination program), we have to respect it and focus instead on the $42bn from China rather than the $500m from the US!

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Akram

Feb 26, 2015 01:59pm

he should stay in jail as long as the US keeps its traitors in jail like aldrych aymes and Jonathan pollard. when the US sees fit to release its traitors then we will consider doing the same, until then this is a discussion we should not get into.

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LubnaKk

Feb 26, 2015 02:00pm

He should be hanged as he is responsible for the death of numerous innocent polio workers,No sympathies for a Treacherous Traitor who humiliated his own country for a Green Card maybe.!

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hrk

Feb 26, 2015 02:01pm

USA - Stop interfering in our matters

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Good Pakistani Girl

Feb 26, 2015 02:03pm

Apologies if I am not getting the right picture, but how is Shakeel Afridi a traitor? He worked for CIA and Pakistan Govt has since 2011 allowed CIA to operate in Pakistan and that's why they have large US embassy in Islamabad. And he helped the world in getting OBL who is a combined enemy of Pakistan as well as the rest of the world. So how come being on CIA's payroll becomes a sin in Pakistan when we have so much unemployment? really struggling to understand.

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Akthar

Feb 26, 2015 02:06pm

@Mohammad Iqbal You can't compare General Musharraf and Shakil Afridi. Shakil Afridi was a traitor because he himself voluteered to do US's bidding to capture OBL. Musharraf lost his nerve after that midnight call and was coerced to join WoT by his own admission. All Musharraf got in return was some millions in dollars & the permit to live in the UK along with his family.

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Intellectual

Feb 26, 2015 02:07pm

It is amazing that, US Congress is keen about the release of Shakil Afridi for helping the US agencies in finding and killing Osama bin Laden but silent about the prize money of $50 million for Afridi ! Current demand of the US Congress and other similar demands from the US Government at top levels are enough of proof about the authentic information having been provided by Afridi leading to the elimination of Osama. It should have been Pakistan Government that should demand the $ 50 million prize money for Afridi that he duly made himself entitled to and also suitably reward him, instead of punishment that is only pacify the friends of Osama.

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Merchant

Feb 26, 2015 02:19pm

Why sovereign America are interfering with what is strictly a sovereign Pakistan's internal matter?

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Merchant

Feb 26, 2015 02:22pm

@Akram don't forget America's nasty Guantanamo Jail which speaks volumes of Americas war crimes.

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Anon Mouse

Feb 26, 2015 02:37pm

If someone helps a thief break into my home he is at fault, it doesn't matter that the thief stole a snake which everyone wanted dead including myself ... it only matters that the thief came in without my permission into my home -> Thats a violation of my rights. Shakil Afridi helped mediate a foreign violation of Pakistan's borders and is a traitor by law. The end result doesn't matter, a mole is a mole.

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Tranquil

Feb 26, 2015 02:41pm

@UFO True dear he is responsible

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ashok kumar lal

Feb 26, 2015 02:42pm

US always deals with army officers.Why in this case it is dealing with civilians, who don,t have any authority.

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nwa

Feb 26, 2015 03:00pm

Eventually he will be freed with a Green card in hand ready to take off. Pakistani nation as usual will be humiliated by our so called friends.

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lafanga

Feb 26, 2015 03:08pm

Jonathan Pollard spied on the US on behalf of Israel and was jailed for life. Dr. Shakil Afridi spied on Pakistan on behalf of US and US wants him released.

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Feb 26, 2015 03:10pm

@kind-hearted more precisely, why only Pakistani. Though we very quickly certified traitors our own people such as Bengali, balouchi, MQM etc

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Feb 26, 2015 03:21pm

Fine USA, than release Ms. Aafia Siddiqui in return.. Deal?

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Abdulla Hussin

Feb 26, 2015 03:23pm

@UFO Pakistan has absolutely no consideration for OBL it is not because of this that Dr, Afridi is being punished it is his act alone action that has landed him in jail. Why did he not report OBL presence to ISI or other such institution in Pakistan. He also had contacts with anti Pakistan & pro terror elements. He is rightly in jail.

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Abdulla Hussin

Feb 26, 2015 03:27pm

@Taimur True. He should separately be tried for espionage & creating mistrust among public towards anti polio campaign leading to resurfacing of this dreadful virus in Pakistan

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sir

Feb 26, 2015 03:38pm

I hope our military and political leadership show courage and don't handover him to America. Proceed with law of the land take it to logical conculsion.

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nzf

Feb 26, 2015 03:59pm

The cost of Aid

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Human

Feb 26, 2015 04:14pm

@Abdulla Hussin do u think dr afia is Pakistan's friend???shes not.......also dr afridi is being held for links to LeI and fake vaccine programme...

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M. Emad

Feb 26, 2015 04:19pm

Pakistan Government should confer 'Nishan-e-Haider / Pakistan' award to the brave Dr Shakil Afridi.

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Mustafa

Feb 26, 2015 04:34pm

@Tanveer; "Why are we holding him when we have been claiming that OBL was a drama??????" Regardless of whether OBL was in Abbotabad or not, the attack was against the Pakistani law.

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indian

Feb 26, 2015 04:36pm

@hrk plz stop taking aid from us .

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Mustafa

Feb 26, 2015 04:38pm

@Ati Khan; Regardless of what citizenship one holds, if you break a law in Pakistan you can be punished in Pakistan.

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Asad

Feb 26, 2015 04:39pm

@M. Emad. Please have some common sense or do not comment. Nishan-e-haider for inviting US to breach our borders.!!!

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Feb 26, 2015 04:39pm

@Anon Mouse as per your logic. You know that their is snake in you house & It is ok for you and also ok if the snake bites the neighbors. Now wonder why Pakistan is in this current state. and wonder why world to not trust you.

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Haroon

Feb 26, 2015 05:18pm

Americans are right and justified in demand. Pakistani security establishment is obsessed with Indian threat.( Thou all educated and literate people understand fact the in presence of A Booms with both countries have placed them in situation of MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) in event of war). For their warmongering Pak army needs money and there are two sources of them (1) USA aid and if America give aid then aid/loans and assistance/Military arms is available to Pak from its USA allies i.e. UK, France, Japan, EU and Gulf states and (2) expat Pakistanis (as their money is needed but Pak establishment is not ready to allow any role for them in the running of the country). And both these sources of finance and assistance are always treated in a very shabby manner by the Pakistani establishment. This cannot continue indefinitely. As for the doctor what harm and wrong did he done to Pakistan, the answer is NOTHING. Instead he did a great service to Pak. Morever, on one hand Pak govt claim to be fighting war on terror and on the other is not ready to acknowledge the role Afridi played in putting an end to menace that terrorised the world at large. Speak volume of the double face of Pak govt and army. Allah Bless the WEST that it is still pouring billions of dollar in aid/assistance to Pak. Pakistani people at least should realise this fact.

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Paksitani

Feb 26, 2015 05:20pm

Please don't leave him hang him till death and we shouldn't allow any one who betrayed.

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Euro

Feb 26, 2015 05:34pm

US do not have a say in legal matters of Pakistan. Is Afridi an American or a Pakistani national? A Pakistani national can not work for a foreign secret agency without the permission of the government. This is just so plain simple and Americans must understand this!!

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Shamain

Feb 26, 2015 05:36pm

@Haroon essay competition??

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Feb 26, 2015 05:46pm

@Taimur : Actually he was never tried in the court of law by the Pakistan government. Like every one else, he deserves a fair trial so that the justice is served. Holding and imprisoning people under some tribal Jirga's decision is not in compliance with laws of Pakistan

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Anon Mouse

Feb 26, 2015 06:23pm

@pk Your comment is irrelevant to my argument. Tresspassing is a crime, regardless of the victim's own malice. Two wrongs don't make a right. America's operation was a violation against Pakistan's sovereignty, helping it was treason. Hence Dr Shakil is in jail. Simple as that.

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Alfa Romeo

Feb 26, 2015 07:30pm

Remember Raymond Davis? If US decided and give ring, our General's would have personally taken Afridi and dropped him in US.

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dawn

Feb 26, 2015 07:47pm

Well and good BUT how about Aafia Siddiqui?

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nwa

Feb 26, 2015 08:42pm

@dawn For Ms. Aafia Siddiqui, she is on different Planet, where our earthly rules and regulations does not apply!!! What a wonderful world.

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Abhinav

Feb 26, 2015 09:53pm

"In the previous budget as well, around three million dollars were withheld to pressurise Pakistan to free Afridi." So the only thing that has changed now is Pakistan wants 500 million $ instead of just 3 million dollars in lieu of releasing Dr. Afridi?

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Izhar Minhas

Feb 26, 2015 10:28pm

This guy has caused such a massive damage to the anti polio drive and was involved in anti state activities that he MUST NOT be released ever, no matter what.

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Khan-Haqiqi

Feb 26, 2015 10:41pm

Did we tried the generals who in 1979 suck Pakistan in Promoting jihadist and spreading of militancy? If not then why we keep this person in jail? When the time will come when we tried these powerful generals, bureaucrats and politicians who destroyed our beautiful country?

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Iqbal Malik

Feb 26, 2015 10:42pm

US doesn't have any respect respect of our judicial system. This request must me rejected with the clear message that it can not be accepted, rather asked them to talk about Aafia Siddiqui.

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