The US Senate on Friday overwhelmingly defeated a bill that would have denied American aid to Pakistan until the release of the imprisoned Pakistani doctor who helped CIA trace Osama bin Laden.
Dr Shakil Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in jail in Pakistan on May 24 for treason over alleged ties to Lashkar-e-Islam.
The bill was defeated by 81 to 10 votes. Introduced by Senator Rand Paul, the bill also called for cutting all US aid to Libya and Egypt, until those who were responsible for attack on American missions in these two countries were arrested and handed over to the US.
Following the defeat of his bill, which was opposed even by senators from his own Republican party, Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky vowed to keep this important issue front and center.
“When nearly 80 per cent of Americans believe foreign aid should be reduced – especially to countries that are not our allies – it is inconceivable why their views are ignored by so many in Congress,” he said.
“I am far from defeated on this; I will continue to fight for this issue when Congress returns, and I will continue to call attention to the billions of American dollars – borrowed from China, among other places – being sent to governments that are not willing to respect and protect our interests overseas,” Paul said.
Earlier, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Dr Afridi should not be treated as a hero by Americans.
“We feel Dr Shakil Afridi should be no hero to the Americans. Dr Afridi did not know the Herculean task that he was trying to do. He did know that he was going after Osama bin Laden. He was a man who was up for hire by anybody who was willing to pay him, and that included Islamic organizations, terrorist organizations, which were using him to move and work against your and our interests. So he was no hero,” Khar said.
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just hope they ship my Fund before the bill passes
1.Senator Rand Paul, Pakistan dosen't need your dollars, we need the heads of Terry Jones, Sam Bacile, Steve Klein & Co. Return the $ to
China or give them to Israel.
2.Hina Rabbani Khar "well-said". You've beaten Hillary at it. Tit for Tat.
3.Now, Hina Rabbani Khar, I request you to get Dr.Aafia back to Pakistan.
4.Also the heads of Terry Jones, Sam Bacile, Steve Klein & Co.
5.Then Dr. Shakil Afridi can be sent to America to help CIA trace more Osama bin Ladens.
6.Three OBLs, if traced before November 2012, will help Obama retain his office at the Blackhouse.
This simple strategy will make all involved, winners, and Pakistan the champion of foreign affairs. Regards.
@aijazhaider. Are you stupid? Pakistanis are starving to death, selling their children for money and committing suicides and you are saying that we don't need US money? Without the US $2.1 billion a year, the country will come to a total standstill. Hina Khar is nohing but a pretty face. Don't have unrealistic expectations from her. A beggar country is in no position to demand anything from the only superpower in the world. Now go back a suck your milk bottle 🙂
Yes, I am a bit stupid, because Nazia keeps calling me stupid, sick-minded, etc. The country is already in a standstill condition. Thanks to violent demonstrations, there was a lot of movement and recreation. When compared to Zardari's money in the Swiss banks $ 2.1 billion are peanuts. I don't know if Hina Khar is pretty, but she certainly has more guts than all previous FMs. I have no personal expectations from her (although i am a bachelor), but i feel her performance is befitting her post and she is beating Hillary at it. The day we get refunds from the Swiss banks, Pakistan will no longer need to beg to the US for only $ 2.1 billion. My demands are irrevocable. The only superpower doesn't know about and can't control, mishaps inside US. How can such an ill or dis-informed regime do anything good across the globe? Begging is bad, but begging to beggars is worse. The US ought to beg us for good advice about good governance. On receipt of refund from Swiss banks, log-in as "zardaritoheaven-Ameen". Oh no! I left my milk bottle in the microwave and now it has melted! Off the record: Is Hina Khar really pretty? Should I,………………………………… forget it,………………………………. she might mind it. Regards.
Gents we tend to forget the US senate the whole system does not have any policies of its own in fact the whole of West dare not make their own policies & implement them, its the big Zionist brother who dictates them.
Even if we demand anything Whether be it an apology for insulting Islam or seizure of drone attacks we are just laughed at. The so called Aid, nearly all of it ends up back in the countries of its origin by the theives who are running Pakistan.
The sooner we reject this aid & interference from the so called super powers the better for Pakistan & the whole world.
Dear Nadeem, you are 100% right, the jews are the real culprits. They effected 9/11 and then used the US to attack Afghanistan and topple the Taliban regime. OBL was not capable of such mass destruction (9/11). The aid goes to their organisations in the form of consultation fee or in the pockets of those who take kickbacks. Not a single dollar, pound, franc, euro, etc, must be accepted by Pakistan. We are better off without their aid, then we will have the courage to talk at par and not like beggars. Our civil and military regimes have made Pakistan dependent on them. Even intellectuals like Shaukat Aziz are amongst the culprits. The HEC is also involved in getting foreign money for education. Everybody is involved, not just the rulers. Not sooner but soonest rejection of US aid is the only way out of slavery and international begging. But can we convince Zardari, Raja and Kiyani? Poet "Daag" has said, "ranj ki jab guftagu hone lagi, aap se tum, tum se tu hone lagi" We just fight with and blame each other. Regards.
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just hope they ship my Fund before the bill passes
PT atleast dont copy complete headline title of Dawn newspaper.
OBL had no capacity of doing 911 then why didnt deny that it was not done by him and his groups.
This way he shared this mess and allow US to escalate its miltiary forces.Whether you accpet it or not he was hiding in Pakistan for what tenure not clear but he was moved here and fully extended this war on terror as per desire of USA.
by the way what you would do with heads of heads of Terry Jones, Sam Bacile, Steve Klein .
You will decorate your study room and play darts on them
You are bachelor but hina khar is not and wife of a billionaire and she has no interest on KU resident.
this aid is life line for military and corrupt politicians.No matter 75% of it is returned to US but for our greedy leaders its 2 to 5 % is enough for them.rest is spared for bureaucracy who are all time yearning this for their ever green bad governance.
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