Multiple Sources: Backroom dealings underway to release bin Laden Doctor, Shakeel Afridi

[PDFChamp]

Backroom dealings underway to release hero doc who helped get Bin Laden

Video: http://video.foxnews.com/v/2358737874001/

Negotiations to release Shakil Afridi – the hero doctor who helped the CIA pinpoint Usama Bin Laden – have gained momentum the past few weeks and he could be released as early as May, multiple sources told Fox News.

Another well-placed source, a U.S intelligence government contractor, told Fox News that there is a lot of “backroom dealing” between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Pakistan Army on the matter. The two parties are negotiating concessions, with a release possible in around three to four months. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the newly-appointed ISI Chief, Naveed Mukhtar, are said to have both asked for immunity for Afridi. But before that could move forward it needs approval from the Army Chief of Operations, Gen. Waseem Ashraf.

The former military leader, Gen. Raheel Sharif, retired late last year and the power shift now to Ashraf has delayed the process.

“Ultimately, Gen. Ashraf decides Afridi’s status,” the source noted.

The Pakistan Embassy in D.C did not respond to a request for comment.

However, in December top Pakistani diplomat Tariq Fatemi told Voice of America that his country would be “willing” to discuss Afridi’s freedom with the U.S and also told local reporters that they were looking forward to working with the Trump administration. Afridi’s fate is expected to be at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s dialogue with Pakistan. While on the campaign circuit last May, the then-GOP frontrunner insisted that, if elected, he would secure Afridi’s freedom “in two minutes.”

Another insider connected to Islamabad officials said that the Pakistan Army does want to free Afridi but the biggest concern is “how to save face from the country.”

A high-ranking Pentagon official previously involved in negotiations to have Afridi released told Fox News that exhaustive efforts were made to establish some kind of “prisoner swap.” However, it was ultimately rejected because Pakistani officials didn’t want anything in return and did not want to appear “weak” by caving in to public pressure from the United States.

“This left the CIA paralyzed,” the insider said. “But the ISI assured [the U.S.] that they would release him once the press about him calmed down.”

 

[Spring Onion]

hmmmmm i was wondering why news channels were having programs on afia siddiqi last month.

 

[Hassan Guy]

In exchange for?

 

[haviZsultan]

In exchange for?

We should trade for Afia Siddiqui. #Bringourdaughterbackhome

 

[Hassan Guy]

We should trade for Afia Siddiqui. #Bringourdaughterbackhome

Nah.

 

[haviZsultan]

Nah.

There is no better trade.... you have suggestions go ahead...

 

[HAIDER]

Backroom dealings underway to release hero doc who helped get Bin Laden

Video: http://video.foxnews.com/v/2358737874001/

Negotiations to release Shakil Afridi – the hero doctor who helped the CIA pinpoint Usama Bin Laden – have gained momentum the past few weeks and he could be released as early as May, multiple sources told Fox News.

Afridi has been languishing in a Pakistani jail for five-and-a-half years. According to an Islamabad official, talks about Afridi’s possible release gained steam toward the end of last year and there has been a renewed willingness to figure out an appropriate time and means to have the doctor – who is said to be declining in health – discharged.

Another well-placed source, a U.S intelligence government contractor, told Fox News that there is a lot of “backroom dealing” between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Pakistan Army on the matter. The two parties are negotiating concessions, with a release possible in around three to four months. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the newly-appointed ISI Chief, Naveed Mukhtar, are said to have both asked for immunity for Afridi. But before that could move forward it needs approval from the Army Chief of Operations, Gen. Waseem Ashraf.

The former military leader, Gen. Raheel Sharif, retired late last year and the power shift now to Ashraf has delayed the process.

“Ultimately, Gen. Ashraf decides Afridi’s status,” the source noted.

The widely-hailed doctor was arrested on treason charges just weeks after the spectacular May, 2011 raid in which Navy SEALs took out the world's most wanted man. He was later sentenced to 33 years for having militant group connections.

U.S. officials have repeatedly condemned Afridi’s imprisonment and expressed regret for exposing his identity by making details of the raid public. The State Department issued the same statement to Fox News that it did over a year ago, insisting that his imprisonment was "unjust" and that the matter continues to be raised "at the highest levels during discussions with Pakistan."

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., routinely called on the Obama administration to withhold billions in aid to Pakistan until Afridi was released. Last year, the House of Representatives passed a defense budget that would make $450 million in assistance contingent on the nation doing more to stop a militant terror network and called on the country to free the jailed doctor. But so far, all efforts have proven unsuccessful.

"Our government for the last five years has permitted this to go on, the fact that they (Pakistan) have been able to collect any type of military or non-military aid is a travesty and is a comment on our weakness as Americans," Rohrabacher told Fox News.

The Pakistan Embassy in D.C did not respond to a request for comment.

However, in December top Pakistani diplomat Tariq Fatemi told Voice of America that his country would be “willing” to discuss Afridi’s freedom with the U.S and also told local reporters that they were looking forward to working with the Trump administration. Afridi’s fate is expected to be at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s dialogue with Pakistan. While on the campaign circuit last May, the then-GOP frontrunner insisted that, if elected, he would secure Afridi’s freedom “in two minutes.”

His words prompted Pakistan Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan to repudiate such comments as “highly misplaced and unwarranted,” reiterating that Afridi’s fate is up to Pakistan, not the United States.

Another insider connected to Islamabad officials said that the Pakistan Army does want to free Afridi but the biggest concern is “how to save face from the country.”

As part of the elaborate CIA plot, Afridi obtained the Bin Laden family’s DNA by orchestrating a fake immunization campaign. The U.S revelation of the plot ignited major backlash and many programs were then shut down, leading to a spread of polio in poor rural parts of the country. Many in Pakistan remain upset by the doctor’s work for a foreign entity and view him as a traitor, and are subsequently outraged by the damage it caused to vaccination programs in Pakistan.

A high-ranking Pentagon official previously involved in negotiations to have Afridi released told Fox News that exhaustive efforts were made to establish some kind of “prisoner swap.” However, it was ultimately rejected because Pakistani officials didn’t want anything in return and did not want to appear “weak” by caving in to public pressure from the United States.

“This left the CIA paralyzed,” the insider said. “But the ISI assured [the U.S.] that they would release him once the press about him calmed down.”

If released, it remains unclear where Afridi and his family will reside since Pakistan is considered unsafe for them. Most of his immediate family remains in hiding and his former lawyer was shot dead in 2015 by a member of a Taliban faction.

“I assume he and his extended family will live and come here,” the Pentagon source added. “But it could also be a third country to save Pakistan from embarrassment.”

Supna Zaidi, founder and executive director of the Council for Democracy and Tolerance, stressed that the U.S cannot forget Afridi and pointed out the broader implications his release would have on foreign policy.

“By securing Afridi's release,” she said, “future cooperation from the international community is more likely because the U.S. will have maintained a reputation of not abandoning men and women, like Afridi, once a security issue is resolved.”

Release him and get 15 yaa 20 .. F sola laraka tyaraa...

 

[Mentee]

@RealNapster doctor afia would soon arrive at a Pakistani airport . What do you say ?

 

[hussain0216]

Hang the fucker!

 

[mingle]

Release him and get 15 yaa 20 .. F sola laraka tyaraa...

So payyaz So jootay wali baat hai yeh bilkul late gye hain yeh trump kay agey .

 

[HAIDER]

So payyaz So jootay wali baat hai yeh bilkul late gye hain yeh trump kay agey .

bhai saheb sari elite class ka pisa bahar ka banko ma haan...... marwaooo ga kiaa harmari gareeb elite class ko.

 

[Mo12]

In exchange for?

2 F-35 jets

 

[mingle]

bhai saheb sari elite class ka pisa bahar ka banko ma haan...... marwaooo ga kiaa harmari gareeb elite class ko.

Abi to Abtadye Ishq hai Roota hai kia
Agey Agey dakhye hota hai kia

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

First of all the person is not a hero as he committed some grave crimes inside Pakistan , apart from the end result (alleged result)

Criminal offence committed:

• Acted as a fake doctor (while being a doctor pretending to treat people) , may have admistered water medicine instead of giving polio medication to kids while on official work in regions
• Who knows how many kids may have suffered from Polio due to fake medicine given during his campaign
  
• Damage to national anti Polio campaigns due to damage caused to general society
  
• Quite a few volunteers were killed as retaliation to actions
  
• Doctor's job is to heal and treat patients , not be a spy (Violated the code of conduct of proper doctor)
• Due to fake medicines being administered there was a spike in Polio cases in around that time period of his arrest
• Pakistan's Vaccination efforts suffered nation wide after the disclosure of the fake doctor's operations

Other Bigger offences:

• Failed to disclose nature of his operation to Pakistani Authorities
• Helped steal DNA and personal health data on local citizens of Pakistan with out their knowledge
• Agreed to recieve financial reward from none Pakistani entity , who failed to disclose dealing to national authorities

CRIMES COMMITTED

Espionage : Death Sentence
Medical Practice Fraud: 20 Years prison for each offence
Theft of DNA data & Patient data : 10 years prison for each offence
Other : Revokation of his Medical practice Degree / licence


If some one wants to give medal or "Reward money" to the man , please send it to his prison , where he can look at his stash full of money daily (unable to spend any of it )

Pakistan in general enjoyed great collaboration on anti Terrorism campaign however this is more of less a case of Espionage (Secret dealings) and backstabing the same people who suffered loss of soldiers in Anti Terror war

Pakistan offered transparent , and friendly hand to help in all matters yet BACKSTAB


Tomorrow some engineer will be conspiror
Tomorrow some teacher will be conspiror
Tomorrow some lawyer will be conspiror

So that is why it was important to apply the state policy on Espionage and other criminal charges on this man

Very simple , law if you don't report the problem to local authorities then you are at fault

 

[AFlover]

This is so disappointing to see such a bad policy making by PAK establishment can't believe these are those generals who were once part of Gen Raheel's team.
Wen will they learn to stand up, whatever dignity we earned in Gen RS time is being drained by these goons.
This is another episode of Raymond Davis.
They are basicallly encouraging traitor sort of people to cooperate with CIA/enemies in future and US will not let them alone so we should expect more Afridi like people to stand up against the state.

Shame