Pakistan jails doctor who helped CIA find Bin Laden for 30 years

[Markhor]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18175964

A Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA find Osama Bin Laden has been jailed for at least 30 years, officials say. Shakil Afridi was charged with treason for running a fake vaccination programme to gather information. The US secretary of state Hillary Clinton had called for his release on the grounds that his work served Pakistani and American interests. Bin Laden was killed by US forces in the north-western city of Abbottabad in May 2011. The killing triggered a rift between the US and Pakistan, whose government was seriously embarrassed to find Bin Laden had been living in Pakistan. Islamabad felt the covert US operation was a violation of its sovereignty. Shortly after the raid on Bin Laden's house, Dr Afridi was arrested for conspiring against the state of Pakistan. Pakistan has insisted that any country would have done the same if it found one of its citizens working for a foreign spy agency. Dr Afridi has been found guilty under the tribal justice system in Khyber district, and has also been fined $3,500. If he does not pay the fine his prison sentence will be extended by a further three years. Dr Afridi was not present in court so was unable to give his side of the story. Mistake? The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says that many outside observers are concerned that most of the people detained since Bin Laden's killing have been those who were trying to help capture him, rather than those who helped shield him. It is not clear if Dr Afridi knew who the target of the investigation was when the CIA recruited him, or what DNA he managed to collect in the fake hepatitis B vaccination programme. The idea was to obtain a blood sample from one of the children living in the Abbottabad compound, so that DNA tests could determine whether or not they were relatives of Bin Laden, our correspondent says. US Defense secretary Leon Panetta confirmed in January that Dr Afridi collected samples for the US and he spoke to the CBS television programme "60 minutes" about the case. He said Dr Afridi "was not in any way treasonous towards Pakistan... for them to take this kind of action against somebody who was helping to go after terrorism, I just think is a real mistake on their part".

[Runner Up]

Just heard this news on TV. Interestingly, America has announced some kind of Award for him and he is in Peshawar Jail now. What will happen next? Discuss.

[Hando]

And what about those who helped OBL to hide ??

[Garuda]

^^ Is there any inquiry still on to find out who was hiding him ? Or if there was any inquiry, did they find out anything ?

But good that the system is so fast to punish the guy who actually helped find out OBL.
Good job.

[Runner Up]

Didn't America itself say few days back that Pakistani authorities were unaware regarding whereabouts of OBL?

[shan]

Dont expect him to stay there 30 years, couple of months maybe.

[Senman]

If Raymond Davis can be released after killing civilian I doubt Pakistan will jail Dr.Afridi. Probably they are making sure he is not targeted by Al-Qaida, this is better way of becoming anonymous. Change the ID and live happily ever-after in USA.

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Pakistan has insisted that any country would have done the same if it found one of its citizens working for a foreign spy agency.

Absolutely right too. OBL should have been found by sharing the knowledge with the Pakistan government not going behind it's back for this action to be legitimate. If the US felt it had to act alone fine, but then any collaborator must be seen as working behind Pakistan's back therefore the treason charge is correct.

[the Great Khan]

Originally Posted by Cpt. Rishwat Absolutely right too. OBL should have been found by sharing the knowledge with the Pakistan government not going behind it's back for this action to be legitimate. If the US felt it had to act alone fine, but then any collaborator must be seen as working behind Pakistan's back therefore the treason charge is correct.

this. Didnt the US jail an isreali spy years ago Pollard i think his name was. and he is still in jail.

There is no evidence anyone knew OBL was there. hell there's no evidence they shot him either.

but there is evidence that afridi helped the CIA. hence he must pay for his treason. Haqanni's lucky or he would also have been sharing a cell with him!

[Bewal Express]

Just a stupid sentence.So we are jailing a guy that helped to kill a guy that was wanted by us anyway and has led thousands of muslims losing their lives. It really makes sense!

[inzy_paratha]

Anyone else misread his name ?

[Strike!]

Originally Posted by kabir000 Just a stupid sentence.So we are jailing a guy that helped to kill a guy that was wanted by us anyway and has led thousands of muslims losing their lives. It really makes sense!

Working with a foreign intelligence agency is grounds for treason in any country of the world.

[deviously~fading~away]

Originally Posted by kabir000 Just a stupid sentence.So we are jailing a guy that helped to kill a guy that was wanted by us anyway and has led thousands of muslims losing their lives. It really makes sense!

He helped a foreign country instead of telling his own people. That is the defination of treason.

[Usman]

Originally Posted by Cpt. Rishwat Absolutely right too. OBL should have been found by sharing the knowledge with the Pakistan government not going behind it's back for this action to be legitimate. If the US felt it had to act alone fine, but then any collaborator must be seen as working behind Pakistan's back therefore the treason charge is correct.

Yes but you have to look at the context too. Had the Pakistani authorities got even the slightest wind of Osama's possible whereabouts, there is every chance that someone within the Pak will have swiftly moved OBL out. The doc probably thought same way.

In any case, his info led to the capture of OBL - whatever the method, surely this isn't a crime, never mind one warranting 30 years in prison.

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Originally Posted by Usman Yes but you have to look at the context too. Had the Pakistani authorities got even the slightest wind of Osama's possible whereabouts, there is every chance that someone within the Pak will have swiftly moved OBL out. The doc probably thought same way. In any case, his info led to the capture of OBL - whatever the method, surely this isn't a crime, never mind one warranting 30 years in prison.

I am not judging what Afridi did on it's own merits, it could well have been very praiseworthy to help pin down OBL. But at the end of the day a citizen has to decide which country his loyalty lies with. If Americans are working with Pakistan then they have to share knowledge especially if they are working on Pakistani territory. If they want to go behind Pakistan's back and work unilaterally then that's their call, but any Pakistani citizen who does so is liable to the charge of treason.

If I as British citizen went behind the UK's back to help the Iranian government kill Salman Rushdie how would that go down here? Wouldn't I be charged with treason?

[Javelin]

Originally Posted by Usman Yes but you have to look at the context too. Had the Pakistani authorities got even the slightest wind of Osama's possible whereabouts, there is every chance that someone within the Pak will have swiftly moved OBL out. The doc probably thought same way. In any case, his info led to the capture of OBL - whatever the method, surely this isn't a crime, never mind one warranting 30 years in prison.

So if his secret work on behalf of the CIA had not lead to the capture of OBL and he was exposed as running a fake vaccination program whilst working on behalf of the CIA, would you have then said "well he was trying to do good by secretly working for a foreign spy agency in his own country" ?

Maybe when the American's orginally gave him and his family a U.S. residence visa, they should also have given him US Citizenship at the same time. That way they can now demand that Dr. Afridi being an American citizen, and a CIA agent, should be freed in the same way that they managed to get Raymond Davis released.

[shortbread]

The shocking fact is the huge failings by the defence and intelligence departments go unoticed and unpunished:

How come no one knew OBL was staying there?! How many more such culprits have found safe haven within Pakistan?

How the hell did a batch of armed US soldiers and 4 helicopters come deep inside Pakistan and kill people?!

The 24 soldiers who died fighting NATO troops, Why did they not recieve any air support. How can fighters simply fly across the border kill Pakistani soldiers and fly away facing absolutely no resistance?!!

It seems both the government and defence establishment have found comfort in sentencing one man for multiple failings on various fronts. These people have failed the country and the men who lost their lives trying to defend it.

[kingusama92]

Originally Posted by shortbread The shocking fact is the huge failings by the defence and intelligence departments go unoticed and unpunished: How come no one knew OBL was staying there?! How many more such culprits have found safe haven within Pakistan? How the hell did a batch of armed US soldiers and 4 helicopters come deep inside Pakistan and kill people?! The 24 soldiers who died fighting NATO troops, Why did they not recieve any air support. How can fighters simply fly across the border kill Pakistani soldiers and fly away facing absolutely no resistance?!! It seems both the government and defence establishment have found comfort in sentencing one man for multiple failings on various fronts. These people have failed the country and the men who lost their lives trying to defend it.

This is what I was alluding to in one of my posts in this thread.

The government is using this treason as a method to divert attention from what was clearly their failure.

Focusing the attention of Dr. Shakil Afridi means the pressure comes off their shoulder. Whether that pressure is temporary or permanent depends on the people of Pakistan.

[RexRex]

Originally Posted by Javelin So if his secret work on behalf of the CIA had not lead to the capture of OBL and he was exposed as running a fake vaccination program whilst working on behalf of the CIA, would you have then said "well he was trying to do good by secretly working for a foreign spy agency in his own country" ?

Are you not happy that OBL was caught ? Maybe a pricck of the conscience that it ultimately lead to the greater good ?


.

[Javelin]

Originally Posted by RexRex Originally Posted by Javelin So if his secret work on behalf of the CIA had not lead to the capture of OBL and he was exposed as running a fake vaccination program whilst working on behalf of the CIA, would you have then said "well he was trying to do good by secretly working for a foreign spy agency in his own country" ? Are you not happy that OBL was caught ? Maybe a pricck of the conscience that it ultimately lead to the greater good ? .

Don't try and put a spin on it. The question is pretty simple, if Dr. Afridi was not successful in his given task, and was exposed as a CIA agent much earlier on, would he be classified as someone trying 'to do good, even if only on behalf of a foreign spy agency', or would he have been classed as a 'spy and traitor' ?

Note: There were many traitors, during the Cold War, in the Soviet Union, in the USA, in Great Briton, in West & East Germany.....(the list goes on), who were working on behalf of the other side, but firmly believed that they were doing good because they were 'helping to stop WW3'.

Or even closer to home, if there was say, an Indian running a fake health programme in India, whilst spying for Pakistan (or a Pakistani, in Pakistan, spying for India) but who genuinely believed, in their his own mind, that he was spying for the other side so as to avert war between the two countries, would you classify them as 'a good guy trying to bring peace' or 'a bad guy who is a traitor' ?

[Strike!]

Good, Anyone who commits treason should be handed a harsh punishment.

[Fawad]

Originally Posted by Strike! Good, Anyone who commits treason should be handed a harsh punishment.

Exactly. In other countries the punishment for treason is death, doctor saab got off light.

[Blitz]

I don't see a problem with this to be honest.

[pakistanigoneaussie]

whole things a mess and to many people are easily swayed, this guy has got the right punishment. The thing with OBL is it always a kill mission because they didnt have enough evidence to convict him for 9/11. even the former head of the fbi said that few years ago when asked why 9/11 isnt mentioned in OBL's wanted poster which i will link. His attack on us embassies is mentioned, but what stops him from saying any civilian deaths were collateral just like the west does. the argument against him there is that OBL was a civilian therefore he cant claim Collatral damage, but if thats the case then isn't assassinating a civilian a war crime ? The pentagon themselves admit osama was unarmed, why didnt they shoot him in the leg like they did his wife?

http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/usama-bin-laden

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/osama-was.../151168-2.html
http://motleynews.net/2011/05/05/fbi...f-911-why-not/
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews...-wanted-poster

Haas reported in the June 18, 2006 article that Rex Tomb, Chief of Investigative Publicity for the FBI, explained that 9/11 was not mentioned because "the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11." "First and foremost," wrote Haas, "if the U.S. government does not have enough hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11, how is it possible that it had enough evidence to invade Afghanistan to 'smoke him out of his cave'? The federal government claims to have invaded Afghanistan to 'root out' Bin Laden and the Taliban. Through the talking heads in the mainstream media, the Bush Administration told the American people that Usama Bin Laden was Public Enemy Number One and responsible for the deaths of nearly 3000 people on September 11, 2001. Yet nearly five years later, the FBI says that it has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11."

im using some else s words here" I am neither affirming nor denying this viewpoint of what occurred on 9/11/2001. Just passing on information for you to decide…."

[KingKhanWC]

When a nation is in a state of covert warfare the sentence for treason has to be tough. It's very much arguable the death penalty should have been used in this case. Even so 30 years is a fair deterrent to any other Pakistani's who may think of going behind the back of the state to help a foreign nation conduct an attack on Pakistani soil.

[ahsan88]

He was charged under FCR, something to ponder about for everyone.

[Stewie]

Good ol CIA.
They used him as an "asset" got what they wanted out of him, told him he would be safe, probably be given asylum in the US, not doing anything wrong, and once all that was done, they made an "ass" out of him and dumped him.

[PetroDollars]

Originally Posted by Stewie Good ol CIA. They used him as an "asset" got what they wanted out of him, told him he would be safe, probably be given asylum in the US, not doing anything wrong, and once all that was done, they made an "ass" out of him and dumped him.

+1

....and therefore he must be given the right punishment and be made an example for others to look at who work with the CIA secretly in the country.

[Namak_Halaal]

Originally Posted by Stewie Good ol CIA. They used him as an "asset" got what they wanted out of him, told him he would be safe, probably be given asylum in the US, not doing anything wrong, and once all that was done, they made an "ass" out of him and dumped him.

Exactly what the CIA did with OBL.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Namak_Halaal Exactly what the CIA did with OBL.

Agreed

[Indiafan]

Originally Posted by Namak_Halaal Exactly what the CIA did with OBL.

So US should have looked the other way after 9/11?

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Indiafan So US should have looked the other way after 9/11?

Obviously, Indiafan, you have zero knowledge of the history of the US proxy war against Soviet Union in Afghanistan, OBL's involvement in the way and the role he played and his relationship with the US.

To you, probably the history starts after 9/11/2001. I will recommend you brush up on your knowledge of what has gone on in that part of the world and then re-read these last few posts.

[Indiafan]

Originally Posted by Stewie Obviously, Indiafan, you have zero knowledge of the history of the US proxy war against Soviet Union in Afghanistan, OBL's involvement in the way and the role he played and his relationship with the US. To you, probably the history starts after 9/11/2001. I will recommend you brush up on your knowledge of what has gone on in that part of the world and then re-read these last few posts.

Thats not the point. The claim was that US used him and dumped him. The fact is, he wouldnt have been dumped if he was not involved in 9/11. No matter how useful he was before, once he master-minded 9/11 what was the US supposed to do?

Originally Posted by pakigoneaussie read my post, its taken them 11 years to lay charges on the people in gauntanmo, they have zilch on osama this was always a kill mission.

Expect the small fact that Osama himself confessed to his involvement and in the years he was running for his life and all those videos he released, he never once denied it

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Originally Posted by Indiafan So US should have looked the other way after 9/11?

read my post, its taken them 11 years to lay charges on the people in gauntanmo, they have zilch on osama this was always a kill mission.

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Originally Posted by Indiafan Expect the small fact that Osama himself confessed to his involvement and in the years he was running for his life and all those videos he released, he never once denied it

yes he has you havent read the link i have posted, the video that came out soon after 9/11 was admitted to being fake, numerous errors with that like osama being fat, wearing a gold ring and using his right hand.

The one video in 2005 he confesses to admitting that he told people to seek revenge against america for the bombing of Lebanon where towers fell.

He has denied it more than admittedmany times , not saying al queada didn't do it, but whether he had much involvement is up to debate.

this was one his last interviews before he was on the run: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.p...t=va&aid=24697

http://articles.cnn.com/2001-09-16/u...-omar?_s=PM:US

ill just give you some quotes : I have already said that I am not involved in the 11 September attacks in the United States. As a Muslim, I try my best to avoid telling a lie. I had no knowledge of these attacks, nor do I consider the killing of innocent women, children, and other humans as an appreciable act. Islam strictly forbids causing harm to innocent women, children, and other people.

I have already said that we are against the American system, not against its people, whereas in these attacks, the common American people have been killed.


Besides the whole war against Taliban was out of america wanting revenge against anyone. The Taliban weren't part of it, they simply said give evidence we will give osama to a third party country Bush proudly said on American TV, video is somewhere on YouTube " We don't need to give them evidence , we know its osama".

Some reports say that when the bombs were falling ( before the ground invasion) the Taliban agreed to hand him over but the Americans refused


Plus USA has spent more on the investigation on Bill Clinton's sex life then they did in the 9/11 commission

[velu]

I am surprised by the swift judgement of the pakistan courts, if its in india the case might go on and on for years.

But sending him to jail wont do any good for pakistans reputation.

[KingKhanWC]

Originally Posted by velu I am surprised by the swift judgement of the pakistan courts, if its in india the case might go on and on for years. But sending him to jail wont do any good for pakistans reputation.

Nations who worry more about reputation over national security are bound to be doomed.

Besides the world doesn't revolve around what the US or India believe. Other major powers such as Russia, China, Iran, Turkey don't see Pakistan in the same light as the western hegemony. Velu bhai you need to start reading alternative news reports, try Russia Today.

[ahsan17]

Originally Posted by KingKhanWC Besides the world doesn't revolve around what the US or India believe. Other major powers such as Russia, China, Iran, Turkey don't see Pakistan in the same light as the western hegemony. Velu bhai you need to start reading alternative news reports, try Russia Today.

I've been saying this for a long time. India and some of the western states do not comprise the whole world, as bharatis very often indirectly suggest. The whole world believes this about Pakistan, the whole world believes that about Pakistan. Seriously guys. Have you not taken geography 101? And regardless, yes as you said, no one should care what US or some other western states think about them.

[Derek Randall]

Originally Posted by KingKhanWC Nations who worry more about reputation over national security are bound to be doomed. Besides the world doesn't revolve around what the US or India believe. Other major powers such as Russia, China, Iran, Turkey don't see Pakistan in the same light as the western hegemony. Velu bhai you need to start reading alternative news reports, try Russia Today.

Those countries .You must be so proud

[KingKhanWC]

Originally Posted by Derek Randall Those countries .You must be so proud

Yes, these nations aren't running around dropping bombs on others. No nation is perfect but it's best to ally yourself with surging powers rather than a declining empire who is a crazed terrorist state. This is what this doctor did behind the back of his nation, he's lucky he isn't going to be hanged.

[Green Leopard]

Originally Posted by KingKhanWC Yes, these nations aren't running around dropping bombs on others. No nation is perfect but it's best to ally yourself with surging powers rather than a declining empire who is a crazed terrorist state. This is what this doctor did behind the back of his nation, he's lucky he isn't going to be hanged.

I find this rather annoying.

And how many Pakistanis, Africans, Indians, Afghans opt to settle in China, Russia, Iran, Turkey for a better life, in these beacons of hope?

For all the heinous "terrorist crimes" of US and UK and yet we choose these nations as our no.1 destination for a better life, for justice & law, for tolerance....

I wonder given the choice to vast citizens of Pakistan or Afghanistan to settle in US, China, Russia, Iran how many would NOT put USA first? not many me think.

[LethalSami]

well he got what he deserved...

Treason against ISI and for CIA.........well u gone

[123]

So whats the latest status " Osama was in Pakistan " , "he died 10 years ago" or something else ?

[humzy]

keep him in jail.. never liked undercover spies!

[kingusama92]

30 years seems excessive.

Treason it may have been, but it was done to catch a terrorist. A man wanted by Pakistan, as well.

[Inswinger]

Originally Posted by kingusama92 30 years seems excessive. Treason it may have been, but it was done to catch a terrorist. A man wanted by Pakistan, as well.

The sentence for treason is capital punishment in Pakistan so that has to be considered.

[kingusama92]

Originally Posted by Inswinger The sentence for treason is capital punishment in Pakistan so that has to be considered.

Fair enough.

Although, one has to wonder why so quick to put Afridi away, yet do nothing about those that assisted OBL?

[Down2Earth]

he's lucky he wasn't sentenced to death. 33 years isn't enough for a traitor in my opinion.

[Torpedo]

If ISI hires xyz guy in the US to help track down a wanted person and once found, they kill him, will xyz be rewarded by the US government or will he be punished for spying for a foreign agency?

[kingusama92]

Originally Posted by Torpedo If ISI hires xyz guy in the US to help track down a wanted person and once found, they kill him, will xyz be rewarded by the US government or will he be punished for spying for a foreign agency?

I think you would be looking at a war, if that happened.

It takes very little to go to war. Pakistan didn't go into war because it's the US, you don't have much of a chance.

Whether going to war would be the right response (no clue), but I am certain the USA would go down that route.

If not war, they would break Pakistan down through other means. So, for your actual question; yes he would be punished along with Pakistan.

[jeetu]

The swiftness of the verdict doesn't surprise me considering the support OBL enjoyed from Pakistan establishment.

[kingusama92]

Originally Posted by jeetu The swiftness of the verdict doesn't surprise me considering the support OBL enjoyed from Pakistan establishment.

I think it has more with the establishment trying to save face.

Treason is an act that looks bad on the gov't. Especially, when it's of this type, where another country came in and attacked within Pakistani soil.

OBL being the target is of little meaning. All Pakistani citizens were thinking about is how easily fooled the nation's defence mechanisms were. A big knock on the government, if there ever was one.

This is the only way they could solve it and try to save face. Push the focus wholly on the treason aspect of things and less on how the gov't failed.

[youboy]

Originally Posted by Down2Earth he's lucky he wasn't sentenced to death. 33 years isn't enough for a traitor in my opinion.

Agree.

[munda_khi]

didn't we established in another thread that OBL was not killed/captured that night. i wonder why us has gone through all the trouble of getting dna by the said doctor and all this. everybody knows there was nobody important in that compound, anyway.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...d.php?t=153448

[Diplomat]

CIA was permitted to operate in pakistan,isn't it?So it may use locals to gather information.
So basically if CIA uses any pakistani person,that person should not be called as traitors.
Because he is not helping the enemy but an agency that the govt has permitted to operate inside the country.
If anyone is traitor/treasonist, it is the US commandos/CIA that executed osama.They should have intimated their plan to pak govt.
30 year sentence to the poor Doctor is way too harsh.
I hope he escapes the punishment somehow..

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by Diplomat CIA was permitted to operate in pakistan,isn't it?So it may use locals to gather information. So basically if CIA uses any pakistani person,that person should not be called as traitors. Because he is not helping the enemy but an agency that the govt has permitted to operate inside the country. If anyone is traitor/treasonist, it is the US commandos/CIA that executed osama.They should have intimated their plan to pak govt. 30 year sentence to the poor Doctor is way too harsh. I hope he escapes the punishment somehow..

1. CIA isn't allowed to operate in Pakistan.

2. Even if it was, it wouldn't be allowed to employ Pakistani's. Just like the USA army, they bring their own men, not hire the locals.

3. Even if it was, the person is a traitor, because he didn't tell the Pakistani government that he was working with a foreign government.

4. How can US commandos or CIA agents be traitors or commit treason. They are American! They have no loyalty to Pakistan.

5. 30 years seems lenient. Since it was down graded from a death sentence.

[PetroDollars]

Originally Posted by Diplomat CIA was permitted to operate in pakistan,isn't it?So it may use locals to gather information. So basically if CIA uses any pakistani person,that person should not be called as traitors. Because he is not helping the enemy but an agency that the govt has permitted to operate inside the country. If anyone is traitor/treasonist, it is the US commandos/CIA that executed osama.They should have intimated their plan to pak govt. 30 year sentence to the poor Doctor is way too harsh. I hope he escapes the punishment somehow..

Since when was CIA allowed to operate in Pakistan???????

There agents caught here like this doctor, raymond davis work secretly with false identities for a reason. Why do you think Obama had to lie about Raymond Davis? Why do you think US operate drone illegal on to the country?

A person working for a foreign intel agency in your country is an act of terroism, just like how RD was sent, this doctor and probably a million more are working in Pakistan right now SECRETLY on american interests.

So ye 30 year sentence on the doctor is not enough, he should be HANGED TO DEATH, so those other idiots working for foriegn agencies wake up and see what will come their way when caught.

[Diplomat]

Originally Posted by PetroDollars Since when was CIA allowed to operate in Pakistan??????? There agents caught here like this doctor, raymond davis work secretly with false identities for a reason. Why do you think Obama had to lie about Raymond Davis? Why do you think US operate drone illegal on to the country? A person working for a foreign intel agency in your country is an act of terroism, just like how RD was sent, this doctor and probably a million more are working in Pakistan right now SECRETLY on american interests. So ye 30 year sentence on the doctor is not enough, he should be HANGED TO DEATH, so those other idiots working for foriegn agencies wake up and see what will come their way when caught.

I am not sure but attomabad does come under pakistan and US army was present there.So they must have got some permission?

[IAJ]

Even Musharraf called him ghaddar on ARY yesterday.

[chacha kashmiri]

Doctor Shakeel Afridi, who man-aged to get the DNA sample under garb of a fake anti-polio campaign, has pleaded guilty. Dr Afridi, who is under arrest for treason, used to treat wounded Taliban leaders initially.

He secretly treated many wounded Taliban leaders including Mangal Bagh and collected huge fees from them. He had a tussle with Taliban over heavy fees. In the last months of 2008 Mangal Bagh group abducted Dr Shakil and he was released after paying ransom.

The incident turned him against Taliban. He met American head of a NGO at a five-star hotel in Pe-shawar in 2009. The US Embassy issued residence visa to him and his family.

He returned to Pakistan after living for some time in the US. However, his family stayed there. During 2009-2010 Dr Afridi met with American officials in Islamabad and Peshawar many times.

During this period Khalid Shaikh Mohammad dis-closed that he used to receive Osam bin Laden’s messages from some area near Hassan Abdal.

The Americans let him spy for them in Mansehra, Hassan Abdal and later Kamrah under cover of anti-polio campaign.

In the beginning of 2011 Dr Shakil Afridi managed to collect the blood samples from Osama’s com-pound in Abbottabad.

On April 28, 2011 the blood samples were matched through DNA tests from the laboratory of the US embassy.

Only four days later on May 2 special US forces conducted the operation at Osama’s compound in Abbottabad.

Dr Shakil Afridi was arrested a day later on May 3 while on his way to Afghanistan from Islamabad.

http://shakilafridi.blogspot.co.uk/2...kil-guilt.html

Don't know how much truth there is in that

[Braveheart]

This case does make you wonder who else in pakistan is currently working for: CIA, RAW, MOSSAD and the MI5?

[PetroDollars]

Originally Posted by Braveheart This case does make you wonder who else in pakistan is currently working for: CIA, RAW, MOSSAD and the MI5?

Mossad doesn't really have access to Pakistan, therefore CIA/RAW is used by them, mainly through Afganistan.

Media, Politics, Religion, Judiciary, Government you name it, all sectors are being exploited and its not rocket science anymore that these elements are behind unrest in Balochistan, back TTP, inflict sectarianism, promote hate and propaganda against ISI/Army, etc.


These sectors need a massive clean up, Army is the only hope left and institution of the country that is trying to save it from these traitors.

[attock]

Originally Posted by petrodollars mossad doesn't really have access to pakistan, therefore cia/raw is used by them, mainly through afganistan. Media, politics, religion, judiciary, government you name it, all sectors are being exploited and its not rocket science anymore that these elements are behind unrest in balochistan, back ttp, inflict sectarianism, promote hate and propaganda against isi/army, etc. These sectors need a massive clean up, army is the only hope left and institution of the country that is trying to save it from these traitors.

+1.....

[Badsha]

Originally Posted by PetroDollars Mossad doesn't really have access to Pakistan, therefore CIA/RAW is used by them, mainly through Afganistan. Media, Politics, Religion, Judiciary, Government you name it, all sectors are being exploited and its not rocket science anymore that these elements are behind unrest in Balochistan, back TTP, inflict sectarianism, promote hate and propaganda against ISI/Army, etc. These sectors need a massive clean up, Army is the only hope left and institution of the country that is trying to save it from these traitors.

@ bold part.

[Maximas]

Originally Posted by Braveheart This case does make you wonder who else in pakistan is currently working for: CIA, RAW, MOSSAD and the MI5?

Money... Money.. Money!
You missed taliban there

[Wasim1]

Sigh things like this just make Pakistan look even worse in the worlds eyes.

So quick to punish the guy that helped capture OBL....what about punishing the people aiding him?

[Mr.Saga]

Originally Posted by Wasim1 Sigh things like this just make Pakistan look even worse in the worlds eyes. So quick to punish the guy that helped capture OBL....what about punishing the people aiding him?

Why are all the headlines saying Pakistan jails doctor who helped find OBL. Was the court ruling: "Doctor you have been jailed for the crime of finding OBL" ???????

Why don't any headlines say : "Pakistani Doctor jailed for running fake vaccine program"

or "Pakistani doctor jailed for breaking Hippocratic Oath."


Laws are laws. The doctor broke the law. He has to pay the price.

[Wasim1]

Originally Posted by Mr.Saga Why are all the headlines saying Pakistan jails doctor who helped find OBL. Was the court ruling: "Doctor you have been jailed for the crime of finding OBL" ??????? Why don't any headlines say : "Pakistani Doctor jailed for running fake vaccine program" or "Pakistani doctor jailed for breaking Hippocratic Oath." Laws are laws. The doctor broke the law. He has to pay the price.

Dont kid yourself he is jail for one reason - OBL. Makes the country look bad to the entire world for harbouring this arab terrorist. Then on top of that getting mad when he is captured and imprisoning the doctor.

[LongHorn]

Originally Posted by Mr.Saga Why are all the headlines saying Pakistan jails doctor who helped find OBL. Was the court ruling: "Doctor you have been jailed for the crime of finding OBL" ??????? Why don't any headlines say : "Pakistani Doctor jailed for running fake vaccine program" or "Pakistani doctor jailed for breaking Hippocratic Oath." Laws are laws. The doctor broke the law. He has to pay the price.

Agree: now if only the "laws" start applying to all the other criminals running free, and in cases holding positions of power

[Indiafan]

Originally Posted by Wasim1 Sigh things like this just make Pakistan look even worse in the worlds eyes. So quick to punish the guy that helped capture OBL....what about punishing the people aiding him?

I think this is the biggest point. They were so quick to identify the doctor, arrest and sentence him. On the other hand, if you deny that Pak goverment, army and ISI knew or were involved with hiding OBL in any ways, then at least there must be some people in the country who aided him and hid him. Has even one single arrest been made in this regard? Surely hiding a terrorist is a serious crime.

Also not good for the image of Pakistan that its so quick to sentence the doctor without giving him any chance of a defense or proper trial, while on the other hand, when it comes to terroriss like Hafeez Saeed, there is no investigation and the onus of proof is left on other countries. Do terrorists have more rights in Pakistan than citizens?

[LongHorn]

The message given out is:
Its very bad to help the CIA without informing GOP/ISI

But if ISI or govt is in the know, then its ok to allow drone strikes, sell prisoners to the US harm national interests and so on,

I have no doubt which of these 2 actions harm Pakistan more

[Wasim1]

People....dont be fools. What did you want him to do? Mr ISI officer OBL is in that house just wanted to BANG....

hed be shot dead before the end of that conversation. Pakistan would have never admitted OBL was in Pakistan it would have been suicide. The doctor knew it and thats why he told the Americans.

Stuff like this is embarrassing for the country. Most of you guys dont live outside Pakistan so you have no idea how these incidents make the world view the country.

[Shayan]

US cuts Pakistan aid over jailing of 'Bin Laden doctor'

A US Senate panel has cut $33m (£21m) in aid to Pakistan in response to the jailing of a Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA find Osama Bin Laden.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has said it will cut US aid by $1m for each year of Shakil Afridi's sentence.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said his term was "unjust and unwarranted".

Dr Afridi was tried for treason under a tribal justice system for running a fake vaccination programme to gather information for US intelligence.

Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011.

The move from the Senate panel follows earlier cuts to the White House's budget request for Pakistan. The cuts would be part of a bill that would send $1bn in aid to Pakistan in the next financial year.

"We need Pakistan, Pakistan needs us, but we don't need Pakistan double-dealing and not seeing the justice in bringing Osama Bin Laden to an end," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, calling Pakistan "a schizophrenic ally".

Meanwhile Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said: "It's Alice in Wonderland at best. If this is co-operation, I'd hate like hell to see opposition."

Correspondents say the cuts reflect mounting frustration in Congress over Pakistan's role in fighting terrorism on its soil.

Absent from court

Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton spoke out against Dr Afridi's sentence.

"The United States does not believe there is any basis for holding Dr [Shakil] Afridi. We regret the fact that he was convicted and the severity of his sentence," Mrs Clinton told reporters on Thursday.

She added that she would continue to pursue the issue with the authorities in Pakistan.

The killing triggered a rift between the US and Pakistan, whose government was seriously embarrassed as it emerged Bin Laden had been living in Pakistan.

Islamabad felt the covert US operation was a violation of its sovereignty.

Shortly after the raid on Bin Laden's house, Dr Afridi was arrested for conspiring against the state of Pakistan.

Pakistan has insisted that any country would have done the same if it found one of its citizens working for a foreign spy agency.

"I think as far as the case of Mr Afridi is concerned, it was in accordance with Pakistani laws and by the Pakistani courts, and we need to respect each other's legal processes," its foreign ministry spokesman Moazzam Khan told reporters on Thursday.

Dr Afridi was found guilty in Khyber district, and sentenced to at least 30 years in jail as well as being fined $3,500. If he does not pay the fine his prison sentence will be extended by a further three years.

Dr Afridi, who is now being held in jail in Peshawar, was not present in court so was unable to give his side of the story.

In June, Pakistani army officials told the BBC that some suspects were arrested for helping the Americans refuel their helicopters during the raid. Others were detained because they were suspected of firing flares to guide the helicopters towards the compound.

It is not clear what DNA Dr Afridi managed to collect in the fake hepatitis B vaccination programme. The idea was to obtain a blood sample from one of the children living in the Abbottabad compound, so that DNA tests could determine whether or not they were relatives of Bin Laden.

It is also unclear if Dr Afridi even knew who the target of the investigation was when the CIA recruited him.

"Shakil actually didn't know he was looking for Bin Laden," Shaukat Qadir, a former Pakistani brigadier who investigated the Abbottabad raid and has been privy to details of Dr Afridi's interrogation, told the BBC.

But he said Dr Afridi should have notified the Pakistani authorities of his activities.

"Pakistan's help should have been sought and if they wanted to use somebody as an agent to assist the CIA, they should have gone to the ISI and said, 'we have this man in mind - would you mind if we use him for this purpose?' And I think that would have been fine," Brig Qadir said.

US officials have said they kept the raid secret from Pakistan because they could not trust their counterparts in the hunt for the al-Qaeda leader.

The issues of drone strikes and Pakistan's refusal to re-open Nato supply routes to Afghanistan have also recently severely strained the two allies' relationship.

Pakistan's parliament has called for an end to the use of drones, and says they are an attack on its sovereignty. Drone strikes in the past two days have killed 12 people in the North Waziristan tribal area, security officials said.

The two countries also failed to reach agreement at the Nato summit in Chicago over the supply routes that were closed after a US air strike in 2011 killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Islamabad is demanding more than $5,000 (£3,200) per lorry in transit fees, up from its previous rate of $250, to let supplies flow again. US officials have said they will not pay that much.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18201077

[Diplomat]

Originally Posted by Shayan US cuts Pakistan aid over jailing of 'Bin Laden doctor' A US Senate panel has cut $33m (£21m) in aid to Pakistan in response to the jailing of a Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA find Osama Bin Laden. The Senate Appropriations Committee has said it will cut US aid by $1m for each year of Shakil Afridi's sentence. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said his term was "unjust and unwarranted". Dr Afridi was tried for treason under a tribal justice system for running a fake vaccination programme to gather information for US intelligence. Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. The move from the Senate panel follows earlier cuts to the White House's budget request for Pakistan. The cuts would be part of a bill that would send $1bn in aid to Pakistan in the next financial year. "We need Pakistan, Pakistan needs us, but we don't need Pakistan double-dealing and not seeing the justice in bringing Osama Bin Laden to an end," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, calling Pakistan "a schizophrenic ally". Meanwhile Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said: "It's Alice in Wonderland at best. If this is co-operation, I'd hate like hell to see opposition." Correspondents say the cuts reflect mounting frustration in Congress over Pakistan's role in fighting terrorism on its soil. Absent from court Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton spoke out against Dr Afridi's sentence. "The United States does not believe there is any basis for holding Dr [Shakil] Afridi. We regret the fact that he was convicted and the severity of his sentence," Mrs Clinton told reporters on Thursday. She added that she would continue to pursue the issue with the authorities in Pakistan. The killing triggered a rift between the US and Pakistan, whose government was seriously embarrassed as it emerged Bin Laden had been living in Pakistan. Islamabad felt the covert US operation was a violation of its sovereignty. Shortly after the raid on Bin Laden's house, Dr Afridi was arrested for conspiring against the state of Pakistan. Pakistan has insisted that any country would have done the same if it found one of its citizens working for a foreign spy agency. "I think as far as the case of Mr Afridi is concerned, it was in accordance with Pakistani laws and by the Pakistani courts, and we need to respect each other's legal processes," its foreign ministry spokesman Moazzam Khan told reporters on Thursday. Dr Afridi was found guilty in Khyber district, and sentenced to at least 30 years in jail as well as being fined $3,500. If he does not pay the fine his prison sentence will be extended by a further three years. Dr Afridi, who is now being held in jail in Peshawar, was not present in court so was unable to give his side of the story. In June, Pakistani army officials told the BBC that some suspects were arrested for helping the Americans refuel their helicopters during the raid. Others were detained because they were suspected of firing flares to guide the helicopters towards the compound. It is not clear what DNA Dr Afridi managed to collect in the fake hepatitis B vaccination programme. The idea was to obtain a blood sample from one of the children living in the Abbottabad compound, so that DNA tests could determine whether or not they were relatives of Bin Laden. It is also unclear if Dr Afridi even knew who the target of the investigation was when the CIA recruited him. "Shakil actually didn't know he was looking for Bin Laden," Shaukat Qadir, a former Pakistani brigadier who investigated the Abbottabad raid and has been privy to details of Dr Afridi's interrogation, told the BBC. But he said Dr Afridi should have notified the Pakistani authorities of his activities. "Pakistan's help should have been sought and if they wanted to use somebody as an agent to assist the CIA, they should have gone to the ISI and said, 'we have this man in mind - would you mind if we use him for this purpose?' And I think that would have been fine," Brig Qadir said. US officials have said they kept the raid secret from Pakistan because they could not trust their counterparts in the hunt for the al-Qaeda leader. The issues of drone strikes and Pakistan's refusal to re-open Nato supply routes to Afghanistan have also recently severely strained the two allies' relationship. Pakistan's parliament has called for an end to the use of drones, and says they are an attack on its sovereignty. Drone strikes in the past two days have killed 12 people in the North Waziristan tribal area, security officials said. The two countries also failed to reach agreement at the Nato summit in Chicago over the supply routes that were closed after a US air strike in 2011 killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Islamabad is demanding more than $5,000 (£3,200) per lorry in transit fees, up from its previous rate of $250, to let supplies flow again. US officials have said they will not pay that much. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18201077

^we may continue debating whether the punishment is right or not,but one thing is for sure:this will NOT improve country's image in eyes of foreign nation or people.
One thing that I like about US is, it doesnt dump the people who helped it.
US is trying hard to protect the doctor.
BTW does Pakistan recieves any financial aid from china?If yes than US aid cut off will not affect it much..

[the Great Khan]

Originally Posted by Diplomat ^we may continue debating whether the punishment is right or not,but one thing is for sure:this will NOT improve country's image in eyes of foreign nation or people. One thing that I like about US is, it doesnt dump the people who helped it. US is trying hard to protect the doctor. BTW does Pakistan recieves any financial aid from china?If yes than US aid cut off will not affect it much..

to hell with the country's image..no one gave a toss before the US and its media institutions started their propaganda against pakistan. It wont make any difference. Until the war rages we are the scapegoat.

as for the aid well most of it hasnt even been disseminated , they havent even paid us for the facilities they were using, so really it doesnt matter anymore. Their leverage is zero. It is a sign of desperation. thats what worries me more. cue false flag op to blame on pakistan..one failed via india, the yanks may try something else!!

[Friend786]

Originally Posted by Shayan US cuts Pakistan aid over jailing of 'Bin Laden doctor' A US Senate panel has cut $33m (£21m) in aid to Pakistan in response to the jailing of a Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA find Osama Bin Laden. The Senate Appropriations Committee has said it will cut US aid by $1m for each year of Shakil Afridi's sentence. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said his term was "unjust and unwarranted". Dr Afridi was tried for treason under a tribal justice system for running a fake vaccination programme to gather information for US intelligence. Bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. The move from the Senate panel follows earlier cuts to the White House's budget request for Pakistan. The cuts would be part of a bill that would send $1bn in aid to Pakistan in the next financial year. "We need Pakistan, Pakistan needs us, but we don't need Pakistan double-dealing and not seeing the justice in bringing Osama Bin Laden to an end," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, calling Pakistan "a schizophrenic ally". Meanwhile Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said: "It's Alice in Wonderland at best. If this is co-operation, I'd hate like hell to see opposition." Correspondents say the cuts reflect mounting frustration in Congress over Pakistan's role in fighting terrorism on its soil. Absent from court Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton spoke out against Dr Afridi's sentence. "The United States does not believe there is any basis for holding Dr [Shakil] Afridi. We regret the fact that he was convicted and the severity of his sentence," Mrs Clinton told reporters on Thursday. She added that she would continue to pursue the issue with the authorities in Pakistan. The killing triggered a rift between the US and Pakistan, whose government was seriously embarrassed as it emerged Bin Laden had been living in Pakistan. Islamabad felt the covert US operation was a violation of its sovereignty. Shortly after the raid on Bin Laden's house, Dr Afridi was arrested for conspiring against the state of Pakistan. Pakistan has insisted that any country would have done the same if it found one of its citizens working for a foreign spy agency. "I think as far as the case of Mr Afridi is concerned, it was in accordance with Pakistani laws and by the Pakistani courts, and we need to respect each other's legal processes," its foreign ministry spokesman Moazzam Khan told reporters on Thursday. Dr Afridi was found guilty in Khyber district, and sentenced to at least 30 years in jail as well as being fined $3,500. If he does not pay the fine his prison sentence will be extended by a further three years. Dr Afridi, who is now being held in jail in Peshawar, was not present in court so was unable to give his side of the story. In June, Pakistani army officials told the BBC that some suspects were arrested for helping the Americans refuel their helicopters during the raid. Others were detained because they were suspected of firing flares to guide the helicopters towards the compound. It is not clear what DNA Dr Afridi managed to collect in the fake hepatitis B vaccination programme. The idea was to obtain a blood sample from one of the children living in the Abbottabad compound, so that DNA tests could determine whether or not they were relatives of Bin Laden. It is also unclear if Dr Afridi even knew who the target of the investigation was when the CIA recruited him. "Shakil actually didn't know he was looking for Bin Laden," Shaukat Qadir, a former Pakistani brigadier who investigated the Abbottabad raid and has been privy to details of Dr Afridi's interrogation, told the BBC. But he said Dr Afridi should have notified the Pakistani authorities of his activities. "Pakistan's help should have been sought and if they wanted to use somebody as an agent to assist the CIA, they should have gone to the ISI and said, 'we have this man in mind - would you mind if we use him for this purpose?' And I think that would have been fine," Brig Qadir said. US officials have said they kept the raid secret from Pakistan because they could not trust their counterparts in the hunt for the al-Qaeda leader. The issues of drone strikes and Pakistan's refusal to re-open Nato supply routes to Afghanistan have also recently severely strained the two allies' relationship. Pakistan's parliament has called for an end to the use of drones, and says they are an attack on its sovereignty. Drone strikes in the past two days have killed 12 people in the North Waziristan tribal area, security officials said. The two countries also failed to reach agreement at the Nato summit in Chicago over the supply routes that were closed after a US air strike in 2011 killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Islamabad is demanding more than $5,000 (£3,200) per lorry in transit fees, up from its previous rate of $250, to let supplies flow again. US officials have said they will not pay that much. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18201077

just a million dollars annually ? lol

[LethalSami]

^^GREAT News

[Indiafan]

$ 1 million cut for each year of the doctor's sentence, lol

[spinDoc]

What do you expect of a country that showers the killers of secular thinking with flowers and punishes the people responsible for finding the most wanted terrorist on earth???

what a joke ,
its a slap on our face as a citizen of this country first harboring osama and then giving jail term to shakil . to add spice on everything our president and other politicians are roaming free in this country .

[Javelin]

Cutting $1m per year of sentence looks like a bit of blackmail to me.

Any country that ignores actions by it's own citizens, inside it's own territory, where the citizen concerned is secretly working on behalf of a foreign power, on the basis that 'the final outcome turned out to be beneficial' is then giving a green light to anyone who wishes to spy on behalf of a foreign agency without the knowledge of the countries authorities.

Otherwise, anyone could be recruited to spy on their own country, and if caught, use the defence that 'it was for a good purpose'.