Pakistan happy to accept Dr Aafia if she serves sentence here: Malik
Ruling out chances of swapping Dr Afridi with Dr Aafia, Rehman Malik talks about a mercy petition.
WASHINGTON:
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that Pakistan would be happy to accept Dr Aafia Siddiqui if she could carry out the rest of her conviction in Pakistan.
In a press conference at the Embassy of Pakistan, Malik said that he had raised the issue of Dr Aafia Siddiqui in his meeting with FBI Director Robert Mueller.
He said that Dr Siddiqui has an ailing mother and two children who were separated from her. When asked about the response he received from the FBI Director, Malik said that he has been given the understanding that this matter will be considered sympathetically.
Ruling out the chances of swapping Dr Shakil Afridi with Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the interior minister said that he was talking about a mercy petition, and he understands that she has been convicted by a court. He said that he had also written a letter to the Attorney General of US on the matter and would release the contents of the letter on Saturday.
American participation in PTI march
US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman says that the US Embassy in Pakistan has been in touch with US citizens participating in the PTI Peace March to South Waziristan, and has informed them about the travel advisory issued by the US Government on traveling to that area.
Speaking to reporters after a nearly one-hour meeting with Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Ambassador Grossman said “They (the US citizens) are in no doubt on where we stand on this issue,” said Ambassador Grossman, adding that the US Embassy’s Charge D’ Affairs Ambassador Richard Hoagland had reached out to the US activists.
Ambassador Grossman said that Interior Minister Malik and he discussed the designation of the Haqqani Network, the issue of IEDs, counterterrorism and the region.
“Americans recognise who are victims of terrorism, Americans are victims of terrorism, but so many Pakistanis have lost their lives and given their lives in fighting terrorism,” said Ambassador Grossman.
Action against IEDs
Interior Minister Malik said that they were taking action on IEDs, and said that not only have they regulated the flow of fertiliser, but are also restricting its movement in certain areas. “IEDs is a very omni-available bombing device,” said the minister, and said that Pakistan’s National Counterterrorism IED strategy is working well, and that with Pakistan’s efforts, IEDs have been reduced considerably. The colour of the blood, whether that of someone from the US, Afghanistan or Pakistan, was the same, said Malik.
Malik said they were taking all legal and administrative measures, and that they were prepared to take additional measures. Ambassador Grossman said that the US wanted to support Pakistan’s policy on IEDs.
“It is not only Pakistan that is being blamed,” said Malik, adding that devices were being made in other countries as well.
Concerns on drones conveyed
Pakistan also urged the United States on "common counter-terrorism strategy against the common enemy," as Malik conveyed Islamabad's concerns on drone strikes in the tribal areas to senior American officials.
"We have a common enemy and we must have a common strategy to fight this enemy - Pakistan is committed with the international community in this fight -and we will hit them hard," Malik said standing next to Grossman after their meeting.
Malik acknowledged in a media interaction that there are reservations on the two sides, despite the fact that both have been victims of terror and have been fighting a common enemy in terrorists along the Afghan border. "Our side has conveyed our concerns regarding drone attacks - the people of Pakistan have been voicing this and we hope that this voice of the people of Pakistan will be heard," the Interior Minister said.
Later in the day, Malik met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He is also due to meet FBI Director Robert Mueller, and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and will participate in a meeting of the US-Pakistan working group on counterterrorism and law enforcement during his trip to the US capital.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that Pakistan would be happy to accept Dr Aafia Siddiqui if she could carry out the rest of her conviction in Pakistan.
In a press conference at the Embassy of Pakistan, Malik said that he had raised the issue of Dr Aafia Siddiqui in his meeting with FBI Director Robert Mueller.
He said that Dr Siddiqui has an ailing mother and two children who were separated from her. When asked about the response he received from the FBI Director, Malik said that he has been given the understanding that this matter will be considered sympathetically.
Ruling out the chances of swapping Dr Shakil Afridi with Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the interior minister said that he was talking about a mercy petition, and he understands that she has been convicted by a court. He said that he had also written a letter to the Attorney General of US on the matter and would release the contents of the letter on Saturday.
American participation in PTI march
US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman says that the US Embassy in Pakistan has been in touch with US citizens participating in the PTI Peace March to South Waziristan, and has informed them about the travel advisory issued by the US Government on traveling to that area.
Speaking to reporters after a nearly one-hour meeting with Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Ambassador Grossman said “They (the US citizens) are in no doubt on where we stand on this issue,” said Ambassador Grossman, adding that the US Embassy’s Charge D’ Affairs Ambassador Richard Hoagland had reached out to the US activists.
Ambassador Grossman said that Interior Minister Malik and he discussed the designation of the Haqqani Network, the issue of IEDs, counterterrorism and the region.
“Americans recognise who are victims of terrorism, Americans are victims of terrorism, but so many Pakistanis have lost their lives and given their lives in fighting terrorism,” said Ambassador Grossman.
Action against IEDs
Interior Minister Malik said that they were taking action on IEDs, and said that not only have they regulated the flow of fertiliser, but are also restricting its movement in certain areas. “IEDs is a very omni-available bombing device,” said the minister, and said that Pakistan’s National Counterterrorism IED strategy is working well, and that with Pakistan’s efforts, IEDs have been reduced considerably. The colour of the blood, whether that of someone from the US, Afghanistan or Pakistan, was the same, said Malik.
Malik said they were taking all legal and administrative measures, and that they were prepared to take additional measures. Ambassador Grossman said that the US wanted to support Pakistan’s policy on IEDs.
“It is not only Pakistan that is being blamed,” said Malik, adding that devices were being made in other countries as well.
Concerns on drones conveyed
Pakistan also urged the United States on "common counter-terrorism strategy against the common enemy," as Malik conveyed Islamabad's concerns on drone strikes in the tribal areas to senior American officials.
"We have a common enemy and we must have a common strategy to fight this enemy - Pakistan is committed with the international community in this fight -and we will hit them hard," Malik said standing next to Grossman after their meeting.
Malik acknowledged in a media interaction that there are reservations on the two sides, despite the fact that both have been victims of terror and have been fighting a common enemy in terrorists along the Afghan border. "Our side has conveyed our concerns regarding drone attacks - the people of Pakistan have been voicing this and we hope that this voice of the people of Pakistan will be heard," the Interior Minister said.
Later in the day, Malik met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He is also due to meet FBI Director Robert Mueller, and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and will participate in a meeting of the US-Pakistan working group on counterterrorism and law enforcement during his trip to the US capital.