Shakil Afridi will not be released on America's request: Foreign Office
US aid is not related to Dr Afridi's release, adds Foreign Office spokesperson.
Dr Shakil Afridi. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Alleged CIA collaborator Dr Shakil Afridi will not be released on the request of the United States of America, stated a Foreign Office spokesperson, Express News reported on Thursday.
The spokesperson added that the US aid is not related to Dr Afridi.
Pakistan and United states will hold strategic dialogue in Washington on the 27th and 28th of this month, spokesperson Tasnim Aslam stated during her weekly briefing in Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported.
Earlier, the United States had warned that it could withhold $33 million of its allotted aid to Pakistan until Secretary of State John Kerry certifies that the alleged CIA collaborator was 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 it could withhold $33 million from the available assistance “until the Secretary of State reports to the Committees on Appropriations that Dr Shakil Afridi has been released from prison and cleared of all charges relating to the assistance provided to the United States in locating Osama bin Laden”.
On January 20, Pakistan had expressed disappointment over the Consolidated Appropriations Bill 2014 approved by the US Congress.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the evening of January 20, the government had said that Dr Afridi’s case was sub-judice and that he remains entitled to due process under the law.
“Consequently, any linkage of US assistance to this case is not in keeping with the spirit of cooperation between the two countries.... We are disappointed that the bill proposes to withhold US$ 33 million from assistance on account of Dr Shakil Afridi’s detention,” the statement had read.
The statement added that Pakistan and the United States are engaged in building a close, cooperative relationship, based on mutual respect and mutual interest and that the government hoped that this process would continue to move forward in a constructive manner.
The spokesperson added that the US aid is not related to Dr Afridi.
Pakistan and United states will hold strategic dialogue in Washington on the 27th and 28th of this month, spokesperson Tasnim Aslam stated during her weekly briefing in Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported.
Earlier, the United States had warned that it could withhold $33 million of its allotted aid to Pakistan until Secretary of State John Kerry certifies that the alleged CIA collaborator was 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 it could withhold $33 million from the available assistance “until the Secretary of State reports to the Committees on Appropriations that Dr Shakil Afridi has been released from prison and cleared of all charges relating to the assistance provided to the United States in locating Osama bin Laden”.
On January 20, Pakistan had expressed disappointment over the Consolidated Appropriations Bill 2014 approved by the US Congress.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the evening of January 20, the government had said that Dr Afridi’s case was sub-judice and that he remains entitled to due process under the law.
“Consequently, any linkage of US assistance to this case is not in keeping with the spirit of cooperation between the two countries.... We are disappointed that the bill proposes to withhold US$ 33 million from assistance on account of Dr Shakil Afridi’s detention,” the statement had read.
The statement added that Pakistan and the United States are engaged in building a close, cooperative relationship, based on mutual respect and mutual interest and that the government hoped that this process would continue to move forward in a constructive manner.