Pakistan moves closer to releasing imprisoned doctor
Pakistan moved closer to releasing an imprisoned doctor who had helped the CIA track Bin Laden after the country’s spy chief flew to the US to try to rescue intelligence ties between Washington and Islamabad, the Guardian reported.
The ISI chief, Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, flew to Washington on Wednesday to seek a patch up in relationship.
The official position towards Dr Shakil Afridi, the subject of weeks of negotiations between the countries, seemed to have softened as a senior Pakistani official said that he may not have known he was working for the CIA.
“If it is confirmed that [Afridi] did not deal with Americans and didn’t know he was working for the CIA, he didn’t break any laws,” the official said.
“He also did not spy on Pakistan or violate the official secrets act. So there may be no reason to charge him,” the official added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2011.
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@Word Life: Brother, America wants Afridi released because Pakistan has been collecting money promising to hunt down terrorists affiliated to Al Qaeda and Taliban, not for protecting them in safe houses. Afridi did what he did because he thought he would be rewarded in his country for helping capture Osama Bin Laden the Worlds best known terrorist. He never knew who was protecting OBL, if he did he would have got himself another job. When the Pakistani Establishment says they are hunting for X what wrong he did in trying to nab OBL ? If I knew there is a big reward for a criminal, I will also hunt for the criminal. Are you upset that the game of deceit and duplicity ended the way it did ?
@Patriot
I am already "Ghairatmand" as I follow laws, pay taxes and don't dream of conquering whole world with mullah power.
@Bangash; It's time you develop some Ghairat and join the club
Law of Diminishing Returns sets in...next time you raise outrage, no one believes !
Typical strategy - Build hype and public outrage, use as a bargaining tool and then pretend nothing happened. First Raymond Davis, later Shamsi Airbase and now Dr Afridi.
So once again Pakistan Agencies are giving in !!!!
“If it is confirmed that [Afridi] did not deal with Americans and didn’t know he was working for the CIA, he didn’t break any laws,” the official said.
Are you kidding me?
The man ran a fake vaccination drive ... What would be effect of his actions on the already Polio hit KPK? Is he not responsible?
Why does the US want his release, if he was not working for CIA?
ISI chief’s visit to America is already bearing fruit, albeit for America! He really did convey a forceful message to the Americans!
I Think Dr Shakil has been trapped.
LOL! Even American spies are untouchable in Pakistan. Where is the "Ghairat Brigade" now ? Can the Ghairat Brigades please commit hara-kiri ?