US Senate docks Pakistan $1m for each year of Shakil Afridi's sentence
Senator Lindsey Graham had introduced the amendment to the bill during a debate on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2013.
Senators from both the Democratic and Republican parties denounced the sentencing of Dr Shakil Afridi under the FCR during the Senate hearing. A release which gave break down of the aid, added that aid to Pakistan had been curtailed since ties with Pakistan had been stalled for months. They also termed the non-expenditure of $881 million earmarked for aid, as a 'saving' for the American people.
Per the bill, Pakistan will conditionally receive $1 billion in fiscal year 2013. This includes $184 million for State Department operations. $800.3 million for foreign assistance. And $50 million for Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.
Dr Shakil Afridi, a doctor working in the public sector, was sentenced to 33 years in jail for committing treason, by helping US intelligence agencies to track down Osama bin Laden in the Pakistan town of Abbottabad.
US to raise Afridi issue with Pakistan
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, addressing a press conference on Thursday said that the US believed the sentencing of Dr Shakil Afridi was "unjust" and "unwarranted".
She said that the US was in the midst of a series of discussions with the Pakistani government on a range of issues important to the US and the international community, and that the US considered treatment of Dr Afridi among those important issues.
Earlier, a US Senate panel had voted in favour of cuts in aid to Pakistan, threatened to withhold even more cash if Islamabad did not reopen its supply routes for Nato soldiers in Afghanistan, reflecting American frustration over the months-long standoff.
Pakistan had closed the supply routes through its territory to Afghanistan in protest when US aircraft killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along the Afghan border last November.
The Senate panel voted to cut aid to Pakistan by 58% in fiscal 2013 from the request by the administration of US President Barack Obama, said the panel’s chairman, Senator Patrick Leahy, who is a Democrat.
The senators voted $1 billion for Pakistan, including $800 million in foreign aid. However, funding for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund was limited to just $50 million, and that money was tied to the supply lines’ reopening, said Senator Lindsey Graham, the panel’s top Republican.
“We’re not going to be giving money to an ally that won’t be an ally,” Graham had told reporters.
COMMENTS (82)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1724760612-0/Untitled-design-(12)1724760612-0-405x300.webp "article")
That's too much of an interference.
It's amazing how much inteference US puts into a government's decisions while they simply don't seem to remember salala check post, ramond davis etc.
Firstly, Pakistan as a country does not gain any thing from that money. It all goes in corrupt leaders pockets. So it is good that we don't receive any more of that.
Secondly, whatever the case Afridi may be, he is a Pakistani citizen and cooperating with foreign spy agengies even for a good cause is considered treason across the world. Why should we be justifying our internal matters to US government.
If they love him so much, may be exchanging with Afia is a good idea. At least a mother could live with her kids who whether crimnal or not, was denied any genuine representation in terms of law.
@Very 1:
Like it or not, should'nt be the guys who pay your bills be the ones who call the shots? The Expatriots who can't spend a dime on them self without thinking of a hungry in their motherland must be respected if not loved.
LOL@ the Ghairat brigade. Pakistan would collapse overnight without aid. You don't have any money to even pay the wages of all the govt employees. If you are so ghairatmand, first stand on your own feet and then talk big. Pakistan is on the respirator machine artificially kept alive by the aid. Pakistan is writing cheques for money you don't have trying to compete with India militarily when your economy is nothing compared to India.
@Mansoor: Afridi wasn't convicted for the unayuthorized vaccination campaign (by the way it wasn't fake, it was realy vaccination, only it was unauthorized). He was charged with war against Pakistan. Also he did not get benefit of being tried under Pakistan's independent judiciary and Pakistani penal code. He was taken to FATA where he was convicted without a trial under FCR by an assistant political agent.
@Mirza: Humanitarian organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières protested the use of a medical charity by CIA for espionage purposes believing it would cause suspicion of such organizations in the future and endanger personal working on such projects claiming it 'threatened immunisation work around the world'
So open your eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How shameful the reaction of US is to Dr. Shakeel Afridi's sentence! Their reaction has brought up the issue of inhumane attitude of a so-called first world country like U.S. towards the miseries and disasters of a third world country like Pakistan. For them it actually doesn't matter to run a fake vaccination campaign which can severely affect our battle against Polio and Hepatitis, without knowing it's horrible repercussions. Pakistan is a place where half of the population is illiterate. Due to the lack of knowledge and literacy, there are certain people who are wary of vaccination campaigns and try to avoid these campaigns. Despite our efforts against Polio, there are still quite some people who have negative perceptions about such anti-Polio programs. And this Shakeel Afridi's PRANK has seriously added fuel to the fire and literally demolished the efforts of Pakistan to fight against Polio and Hepatitis. But for them, it doesn't matter whether our younger generations suffer from Polio or any other disastrous disease. This is just perfect illustration of the perception that we people are just like insects to them; they can treat us in any way that deems fit to them. Osama Bin Laden was an evil man, that's a fact. But on the other hand, that Shakeel Afridi and CIA are no lesser evil. Just imagine how many people would avoid such vaccination campaigns in future and how many childeren will be prone to Polio. It's not that they can't imagine it, it's just they don't want to imagine it.
Many, many of you ask that the US cut the welfare we send you completely off. Rather than just give that lip service... you should organize your people and take to the streets and demand your government refuse any US welfare dollars from this day forward. You are unhappy with the politicians you have... boot them out of office and replace them with more honorable people... ones who will make decisions for the good of all your people, not just the politicians. You have good people there, eliminate the politicians who steal from the people, and replace them with good politicians.
whatever 33 million for rulers, 0.3 million for masses. yes, thats the impact of US aid for us
It is our corrupt leaders who always sold Pakistan's pride for dollars. Allah has given us enough resources, we should use them and should throw out USA from Pakistan including their aid. This would be the first step in making Pakistan what it is made for.
33 millions cut for 33 years, that is very low. Make it 330 millions or 3.3 billions and you will see Afridi being released immediately.
Dear US, I wish to thank you for this..Although, be reminded that this will merely strengthen the resolve of those who supported the jailing in the first place. This act merely validates, incriminates and also demonstrates on how the US conveniently abandoned someone that supported them.
@Disco: How dare Pakistani Courts make an independent decision and show no sign of pressure from the US? Yes, Pakistan must be punished for acting like an independent state.
Please cite the specific law that Dr. Afridi broke. Since when is it illegal to inform on a patient you don't know, with no real substantive information (other than the DNA sample provided) to a foreign organization you barely understood? Oh and if Pakistan was so sure that he was a traitor, why try him under the FCR. He's from Karachi. Try him there and give him a death sentence.
You Pakistanis have a strange view of what constitutes treason. He did not betray government secrets. He helped catch a mass muderer and terrorist. For that, he gets 33 years? What sentence are those protecting Bin Laden going to get?
Those who left Pakistan and took economic refuge in more prosperous countries: what right do you have to criticize Pakistan and comment on things you don't know anything about? Hypocrisy and ignorance, at its worst.
@marium Lodhi, kaalchakra
Do tell us what laws Dr. Afridi broke? He didn't even know the man he was getting a sample from was Bin Laden. He just knew it was a person of interest. His only act was getting a DNA sample.
Now, is there a law in Pakistan that specifically states that thou shalt not inform the CIA of foreign terrorists residing in Pakistan? Or are the two of you suggesting that Dr. Afridi was disloyal since the protection of foreign terrorists is in Pakistan's national interest?
If Dr. Afridi is a traitor, then do tell me what is your opinion of all those lovely people in tan suits who helped protect the guest Abbottabad? Dr. Afridi is a traitor to you and those who protected Bin Laden are heros?
Wether we favour or oppose Dr. Afridi's sentence, we agree on one point that operation details given by USA were hundred percent correct. Pakistani media and retired generals were so wrong and Abbottabd commision was waste of time and money.
@ SPUD
Dr Afridi has been sentenced to treason for not sharing vital information he had with the government he has pledged allegiance to. Nice story telling though. Join Fox News.
HMM, and all of this on an assumption that OBL was found in Pakistan. Yes the body at the bottom of the sea can testify for it.Tell me did they fear the ghost?
If we are that Ghairatmand a nation how about getting to work on time, finish an honest day of job, pay taxes, spread courtesy & charity, pick trash not throw it on the streets, stand-up against any abuse of the weak or the minorities and last but not least__ denounce violence against women, children and innocents from any quarter whatsoever for whatever reason. Want to do that? How brave & honorable are you? Lets see!Bad news for Swiss bankers, getting 1 million less every year.
@Raj-USA
And what he (Zawahiri) is found or killed in India, I'm sure US will continue to play Zawahiri drama for quite sometime to come.
So if a US citizen had helped ISI and did not inform CIA what would have been the reaction and the imprisonment?
How dare Pakistani Courts make an independent decision and show no sign of pressure from the US? Yes, Pakistan must be punished for acting like an independent state.
cutting aid is just step one...
@Zaman, your argument is total crap and has no basis. When were NGOs safe in Pakistan? People serving there were being kidnapped, killed before OBL operation happened and continue after his death. So, tell us this great idea. Secondly, what about Nawaz and Benazir and Musharraf, who all handed over people to US without following due process of law within Pakistan? Why should they not be tried under same laws by some tribal court?
Cut all aid.. who cares... Pakistan survives on a greater being than the US... US should worry about its empire that it is losing on a daily basis... If they think they can break Pakistan by not giving aid, let them try their best and we shall let Allah plan for us.
Dr. Afridi was convicted for treason which by definition is an act against the nation and its government. Therefore by convicting Dr. Afridi of treason Pakistan has admitted that the murderer Osama was an honoured guest of Pakistan and that by helping USA in Osama's elimination Dr. Afridi went against the Pakistan government and thus committed treason. Dr. Afridi's sentence has exposed Pakistan's treacherous double game and as punishment the USA should stop giving out billions it gives to Pakistan in the name of war on terror.
The aid goes into the ruler's pocket, anyway.
@kaalchakra: Thanks for announcing the core interest of Pakistan. Thanks to the honorable Doctor, goose laying the golden egg has been caught and killed.
@Ali Tanoli,: Yes! Agree with you 100%. Why we need to worry when we don't live in Pakistan, huh?! Moreover when we send money back home we get more Rupees, right?!
@Michelle Hussian: There is huge difference between what Jonathan Pollard was doing .. and what Dr Afridi did. Jonathan was harming his motherland by giving its secrets to another country. while on the other hand Dr Afridi was helping his own country by getting it rid of a monster who has caused not only to kill thousands of innocent fellow citizens but has also destroyed the harmony that once existed in our country by bringing polarization and destruction to our society. People here are so blinded by hatred and so called ghairat that they are digging their own graves. In simple words, A renown thief and killer jumps over the wall of your house and kills your own relative while hiding inside the house .. your brother asks a neighbor to catch him which he does, but your dad instead of praising him, locks him inside a room and throws away the key. Only proves that either the Dad is a total freak or partner in crime with that thief.
@Michelle Hussian: Great response.
Dr Afridi has been a "loss-loss" for Pakistan. First he helps the US catch OBL, Pakistan's golden goose, and now the US docks another $33 million on top.
Dr. Afridi has been terrible for the Pakistani economy. Guess its back to selling cotton t-shirts and footballs for a living.
@kaalchakra: wrote "Dr Afridi harmed Pakistan’s core interests and negated the national work of many years"
Care to explain what "core interests and national work of many years"?
I
@zaman: Nice try to cover the crimes of protecting OBL for many years. Dr. Afridi was a govt servant and not working for NGO. There are lots of great people working for NGO including my close friends but Afridi and his wife were govt employee. Keep trying and there may be a good excuse to target only Dr. Afridi and HH after OBL was found in a military base living comfortably with his harem. All are innocents and nobody is targeted except these two people who were not protecting OBL. It has been proven time and again that the world has no faith in the protectors of OBL and provider of safe havens. Whenever the whereabouts of terrorists were shared, they all disappeared before the attack! The only reason OBL was found and killed is the secrecy and keeping him and his protectors in the dark. The only way Pakistan can prove its point is by arresting the top leaders and presenting them in the court all on their own, but they would never like to part with their top assets. Thanks and regards, Mirza
@Mirza:
"The money flow must stop till we come out clean and prove to the world that we have stopped supporting the terrorists and are not angry at the killing of OBL. The world has to nominate Dr. Afridi for the highest civilian honors. Till Pakistan shows remorse and behavior change there should be no cash and military aid."
Your own government of PPP is in power, who else is supposed to do what you are asking to do. On every other occasion, you fervently and unconditionally supported all the actions of PPP government, as any "Jiala" would do, but here you just don't give them a damn. By the way, how the Pakistani nation will prove, to the entire satisfaction of your American Highness, that Pakistanis are not angry over the killing of OBL (but only the way he was killed) and they do not support terrorists (rather they are themselves the biggest victims of terrorists, 40,000+ lives sacrificed)? Any way, the people of Pakistan strongly rejects any charities (aids) - that eventually ends up back in your banks by the corrupt politicians and civil and military bureaucracy - and demand to permanently stop this insult for ever. We shall be rather obliged if you do so.
@Pakistani: Yeah. It's hard to blackmail people who are already at rock bottom in conscience and priorities.
This is equal to only 33 kilos of heroin which could have already crossed the border.
It would be very interesting to see what happens WHEN (not if) Zawahiri is found in Pakistan and either captured or killed by US forces.
@have-faith-folks: when have u done that in last 60 years taht you were created...???
Maybe night time golf at the Karachi Cantonment will need to reduce its hours to make up for the losses.
@Mirza:
"The money flow must stop till we come out clean and prove to the world that we have stopped supporting the terrorists and are not angry at the killing of OBL. The world has to nominate Dr. Afridi for the highest civilian honors. Till Pakistan shows remorse and behavior change there should be no cash and military aid."
Your own government of PPP is in power. Who else is supposed to do what you are asking to do. On every other occasion, you fervently and unconditionally supported all the actions of PPP government, as any "Jiala" would do, but here you just don't give them a damn. By the way, how the Pakistani nation will prove, to the entire satisfaction of your American highness, that Pakistanis are not angry over the killing of OBL (but only the way he was killed) and they do not support terrorists (rather they are themselves the biggest victims of terrorists, 40,000+ lives sacrificed)? Any way, the people of Pakistan strongly rejects any charities (aids) - that eventually ends up back in your banks by the corrupt politicians and civil and military bureaucracy - and demand to permanently stop this insult for ever. We shall be rather obliged if you do so.
Maybe a rescue op is in order?
This is seriously insulting. It is like taking back some change from a beggar after you gave him a rupee, because he complained that a rupee was not enough.
Have heard 1 billion is all they've got for Pakistan. Cut it all completely, Pakistan I am sure will be much better place without american support.
Please, please stop all the aid and alms. We, the people of Pakistan, do not want your charity. Would you please do us this favor.
@Kaalchakra first of all Dr. Afridi him self did not know what he was doing. And what harm did he cause to pakistani ppl anyway? Did you not notice how the suicide attacks have decreases since obl's death. It's Pakistan that always plays the double game and harms the interest of pakistani ppl by using the aid money tht was given to build damns and other projects to help poor ppl in pakistan to buy weapons and build over more than a 100 nukes pakistans defence cheats its own people everyday.
@Imran Mohammad: What are you doing in USA. Pakistan needs you. Please go back.
@kaalchakra: For those running the Foreign and Security affairs of PAK, they need aid BADLY to service and run their military toys.
For every notches up of infighting between the divorced couple (USA/PAK), India becomes more secure from it so called PAKI non state actors.
@kaalchakra:
You are sating Pakistan's core interest is protecting an internationla terrorists. There should be sanctions against Pakistan now since you are all committed to protecting terrorists.
Sanctions until Mullah Omar and Zawaheri is handed over. Surely, it is clear from your statement they are under Paksitans best interest.
""USA should stop having double standards when it comes to spying. Good Old Jonathan Pollard, born and raised in Galveston, Texas, an American Citizen, a Naval Intelligence Specialist was caught spying for our biggest ally Israel and was convicted of all charges of spying and was thrown into the prison in 1987 and is still in Jail since then regardless of countless request and pressures from Israel and US Congress. There is something in Nation’s nature that they will never forgo this nature of spying that hurts its national morale and ego and no matter if the spying is done for friends or foe, they take it against the spies severely. Similarly, USA is Pakistan's biggest ally but when it comes to the spying for USA inside Pakistan by another Pakistani , Pakistan with all its problem and attacks by terrorists inside Pakistan and 35000 people dead and over 6000 troops martyred against war on terror, and more than 50 billion dollars of infrastructure losses, Pakistan could not tolerate this devious doctor from having treason and spying against its mother land. As USA punished her spy Jonathan Pollard so severely and make it an example to other people who have another thought to spy against USA, similarly Pakistan had to make an example by punishing Dr. Afridi to other people who would have thought to do spying for our friends or for our enemies. USA should commend Pakistan that it follows USA footsteps by punishing its spies and not condemning her.""
Lets just declare ourselves a colony and be done with it. Considering how supportive most of us seem towards the US having the right to dictate to us what is in our National Interest.
Or
The bold enough to tell the USA that we have had enough humiliation. A law is a law, a person who goes against the country commits treason. And intelligence for a third state is treason no matter what is the bigger picture.
Haha That's good. Less money to go where it goes. in pockets.
so 17 m left - US senators please take that also away and give it all to Afreedi's family as his employment benefit.
I think you should deduct 100 million for each year of imprisonment to that doctor. da faq is your problem, it's our internal issue!
You know what the pakistani public is infact grateful to the Senate for this cut. The only people crying over this news is Zardari & Co. If they were so grateful to Shakil Afridi why didnt they ferry him out earlier, instead of living him as a feast for the agencies. Typicall Americans playing to the galleries!
Strange!
Pakistan requested US to consider Dr Afia Siddiqui's case with sympathy and rationale. US slapped 80 years plus imprisonment to her! Pakistan did nothing. Cant do anything either.
US requesting Pakistan to consider Dr. Afridi's case on merit. Pakistan slapped Dr. Afridi with 33 Years of imprisonment. US slapped reduction of $1 million/year against this sentence ($33 Million) and continue to "pressure" Pakistan to "reconsider" the sentence. Pakistan, this time, can do something!!!
Exchange Dr Afia with Dr Afridi by send Afridi to US and bring Afia to Pakistan. Atleast two lives will be saved. Both are human beings and perhaps did nothing wrong according to their beliefs. Lets consider either cases on human level.
For the aid money, US may please please please reduce the amount by $330 Million and $1 Billion, i.e., $1.330 Billion. It would help Pakistan get rid of aid virus plus rampant corruption as if there is no money there is no corruption.
Also, Zardari should also be exchanged for someone in US - may be Carter. Atleast whatever he will do for Pakistan, it would be good!
@Kaalchakra, Can you please elaborate what the core nationai interest are and what national work Dr afridi has negated?
Do you in Paksitan have a national policy of harming other muslim countries(ie Afghanistan) by supporting thugs like Taliban? Does your national work mean that whilst begging for money and recieving aid you also look the other way to the terrorists and give them save heavens and hiding places?
No one can deny that from the money received through begging everyone in Pakistan benefits to a degree: the biggest chunk goes to your corrupt politicians and immoral generals. Then some money is spent on your atomic weapons. The last bit is spent on your infrastructure ie roads etc etc. Basically this means that everyone in Pakistan directly or indirectly is happy to get dollars from American but not happy to do what the master want.
Won't it be easy and more honorable if your generals and politician simply reject US, Europe aid?? Why don't you guys come on the streets on mass and protest and burn your general and politicians pictures because they accept aid? And finally why does 30% of Pakistanis want to go to America if they had the chance to do so. After all that is the country you guys hate so much!!
...wait for it....LEGENDARY......:D
Good news. Please stop all aid. We don't need it. All aid ends up in the pockets of the corrupt rulers.
If Pakistan has any ghairat, then it should refuse the aid that's doled out to it with what ghairatmand may find 'explicitly humilating' stipulations. But Pakistan will never do that because while it talks about 'ghairat' , in reality it has none of it, may be even less than any other country in the world.
I would have made it 1 million for 1st year, 2 for 2nd, 4 for 3rd, 8 for 4th and so on until it was atleast 100m/yr
@Mirza: The CIA used an charity organonisation an NGO for whom this Dr Afridi worked for, this was a wrong and dishonourable thing. This has put all humanitarian organisations work under suspision and therefore they will not be able to help the poor and the needy as freely and openly as before. Because all developing countries will think that such NGO's are a cover for CIA and other western spy agencies.So before you give a medal to this Dr Afridi, think of all those poor and needy of Pakistan and other countries` who depend on these NGO's.
It anyways wouldn't have reached pakistani people......
our establishment needs to really change their strategy now, you cannot fight the whole world despite surviving on US aid
The US is finally hitting the Pakistani Army where it hurts most - its begging bowl.
I beg the USA to stop giving aid to my country and stop supporting dictators and disgraced regimes like this one but the USA will never stop giving aid neither will it seize to nurture dictatorial regimes.
whose party is alkeda? afridi is sentenced due to fear of the beards who are themselves american proteges. the rulers the chaudhry and the others are all destroying pakistan
Don't give us any aid money; after all it ends up in the coffers of our corrupt and inept politicians.
US can take its money and put it where its bill doesn't shine. Dr Afridi harmed Pakistan's core interests and negated the national work of many years. 33 years for such a crime against Pakistani people is extremely lenient.
Doesn't this show on whose side Pakistan is..?
BTW, as a Pakistani living in US, I demand that there should be no aid given to Pakistan.
That will be the best thing that has ever happened to Pakistan !!! Let Pakistan introspect and stand on its own.
Instead same money should be spent here in US and prevent schools from being closed and teachers from being laid off.
Let me describe this move using the same terms as I hear in US politics here:
Cheap, tawdry, pathetic, flimsy.
Good riddens, he was sentence only for 33 years.
This keeps up and the USA will get to the point where it may demand that Pakistan start to write checks to the USA to reimburse for past donations.
@Ali Tanoli, There is always an option to refuse this amount. Why not exercise that option if gairat is such a big thing in Pakistan?
that's more like it - cut all our aid and we might attempt to stand on our own feet
Sorry but everyone running our foreign relations ought to be fired asap.
hahaahahahaahahaha , you can blackmail our leaders with money but not people of Pakistan
The money flow must stop till we come out clean and prove to the world that we have stopped supporting the terrorists and are not angry at the killing of OBL. The world has to nominate Dr. Afridi for the highest civilian honors. Till Pakistan shows remorse and behavior change there should be no cash and military aid.
Tit for tat. Pakistan cannot continue its double game. They can fool its people but not other countries. Wait for similar actions from other NATO countries.
with thanks
Thats a very clever pattern. $1 Million for 1 Year.