The United States will continue to raise the issue of release of Dr Shakil Afridi with senior Pakistani leadership as his prosecution and conviction sends wrong message about the importance of Pakistan-US shared interests in fighting terrorism, the US State Department has said.
To a question during briefing on Tuesday, State Department Deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said Secretary of State John Kerry raised Dr Afridi’s case with Pakistan’s leadership during his recent trip to Islamabad. She said bringing Osama bin Laden to justice was clearly in Pakistan’s interest as well as in that of the US.
“The prosecution and conviction of Dr Afridi sends exactly the wrong message about the importance of this shared interest. We have clearly communicated this position to Pakistan both in public and in private, and we’ll continue to raise this issue during our discussion with Pakistan’s senior leadership,” she said.
She refused to answer if there was any positive response and said the US was clear about its position on it and would continue raising it at the highest level.