WASHINGTON: The United States has once again reminded Pakistan that it considers Shakil Afridi’s conviction “unjust and unwarranted”, although the Obama administration has stopped the CIA from employing the method the doctor used for tracing Osama bin Laden.

“We believe his treatment is unjust and unwarranted. We regret that he was convicted and the severity of his sentence,” State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki told a briefing in Washington.

Dr Afridi had used a phony vaccination campaign to collect DNA samples from a compound the CIA suspected was Bin Laden’s hideout.

In January last year, deans of 13 US medical schools sent a letter to President Barack Obama, reminding him that the CIA plot caused a severe backlash against vaccination in Pakistan. Dozens of polio vaccinators have been shot dead since then. Other immunisation initiatives were also stopped. Deaths from measles soared in 2012, to 306 from 64 the year before.

The White House wrote back to the deans last week, telling them that it had ordered the CIA not to use vaccination drives for spying.

The issue was raised again at a State Department briefing on Tuesday evening where a journalist asked Spokesperson Psaki to explain if the decision would also affect the US position on Dr Afridi.

“We have clearly communicated our position, as we consistently have, to Pakistan, both in public and in private. We continue to raise this issue at the highest levels during discussions with Pakistan’s leadership. Our position has long been clear and has not changed,” the State Department official said.

The US Embassy in Islamabad also continues to reiterate Washington’s position on this issue, she added while regretting “the severity” of Dr Afridi’s sentence.

Dr Afridi was convicted and sentenced by a Pakistani court to 33 years in prison for treason. The sentence was later overturned and he now faces a retrial.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...