Dr Shakil Afridi. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The United States has warned that it could withhold $33 million of its allotted aid to Pakistan until Secretary of State John Kerry certifies that alleged CIA collaborator Dr Shakil Afridi has been released and cleared of all charges.
The new $1.1 trillion spending bill, for the remaining part of the current fiscal year, appropriates military and non-military aid to Pakistan. But on page 1,327 of the 1,582-page document, the US government warns to withhold $33 million from the available assistance “until the Secretary of State reports to the Committees on Appropriations that Dr Shakil Afridi has been released from prison and cleared of all charges relating to the assistance provided to the United States in locating Osama bin Laden”.
Separately in the spending bill, the US administration allots aid to Pakistan to the “counterterrorism and counterinsurgeny capabilities” of the country. Other funds will be appropriated for assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan, cross-border stabilisation and development programmes.
The Congress also requires the US government to devise a “spend plan,” which shall include “achievable and sustainable goals, benchmarks for measuring progress, and expected results for combating poverty and furthering development.”
Moreover, not later than six months of the ‘spend plan’ – and every six months thereafter until September 30, 2015 – the US Secretary of State is to submit a report on the status of these goals achieved to Committees of Appropriations for future allotment of funds.
The spending bill was passed on Wednesday by an overwhelming majority in the US House of Representatives – its lower house – and the Senate, controlled by Democrats, is expected to pass it easily this week.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2014.
COMMENTS (21)
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Americans are bargaining. Interesting. In USA, there are no rights and wrongs- there are only deals. Indians are going through one- getting the taste of American medicine.
@Lala Gee just for curiosity.. what GOI for?
I understand why your embarrassed that OBL was discovered hiding in the shadow of your vaunted military academy - any other country would have taken out that anger on the people who were hiding OBL not the guy who helped discover him. What's wrong with you people?
shame shame! Pakistan must get rid of International Capitalist Economic system and take Control of all paper currency instead of borrowing from interest bearing and collecting banks who are the backbone of the Capitalist economic system. This can only be done BY THE GOVERNMENT TAKING control of all Banknotes printed in the country ,instead of giving to the major bank we must eliminate RIBA from our economy..It is not impossible because when there is a will there is a way.
@Bilal: shame shame! Pakistan must get rid of International Capitalist Economic system and take Control of all paper currency instead of borrowing from interest bearing and collecting banks who are the backbone of the Capitalist economic system. This can only be done BY THE GOVERNMENT TAKING control of all Banknotes printed in the country ,instead of giving to the major bank we must eliminate RIBA from our economy..It is not impossible because when there is a will there is a way.
This is the pity standard we have reached. Nawaz shareef, wake up from your day dreaming. Or have you also been sold out by USA. Time and again, Pakistani people are calling for a revolution.
There is a price tag for everything.- Decide the price ( which may not always be in dollars only )
Old trick once again being played. A BRIBE in the name of AID is being offered to achieve their illegal goal. Shakeel Afridi has violated country's law and no country even US cannot tolerate if their citizen is found be the collaborator of any other country. These country has undoubtedly double standards when came to Pakistan. It disgusting that people makes such binding or demand such ridiculous demand. Should have ashamed rather offering bribe.
Aafia / Afridi would be a good barter trade. Both are traitors as per their country laws.
Pretty good price, considering the fact that this good man did a job single-handedly which we all as a nation could not do.
Shakil Afridi is not a hero (in Pakistan) because he betrayed the Pakistani tradition of Mehman Nawazi
Shakil Afridi is a Hero of Pakistan!
@Ironserpent: Heros are not made with DOLLARS.
Dr. Afridi is a hero and should be a free man. Pakistan is behaving like the spoiler once again. No surprises.
How much for Musharraf? Let us wait and see.
Black mailing to get a spy to create more spies.Must not be handed over to them.
@nikki the man is a hero. he identified Osama. If none of us Pakistani's see that let him go to the states and live in peace. Kuddos to Dr. Shakil Afridi.
No need of blackmailing,take him out from Pakisan,Pakistan does not need this disloyal man. He can serve American only in America.
Just add a 0 at the end ($33 -> $330) and resettle Shakil bhai to Houston.
Good move,No use of keeping him with us. send him to US...