Before and after the death of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, problems in ties between Islamabad and Washington have always there with rapid calls in the US Congress to cut off US aid. Just like a cat dog fights between U.S. and Pakistan has risen in which hurdles are always faced by Pakistan.
Recently Pakistan made a big mistake – jailing Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi for around 33 years on charges of treason being helped the CIA to find Osama Bin Laden.
Being angered over Pakistan’s Wednesday decision giving sentenced in jail to Afridi, a US Senate Appropriations Committee panel has voted Thursday to cut Islamabad’s aid by $33 million in response to the conviction of Afridi – one million for every year of doctor’s sentence.
After the Senate panel voted30-0, Senator Richard Durbin interacted media and said, “It’s arbitrary, but the hope is that Pakistan will realize we are serious.”
“It’s outrageous that they (the Pakistanis) would say a man who helped us find Osama bin Laden is a traitor,” he further added with outrage.
Reports suggested, Earlier in the week the committee already slashed aid to Pakistan by 58 percent and warned more cuts if any failure in regard to Islamabad to reopen supply routes for NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Disappointing from Pakistan action over Dr Afridi’s sentence, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters, “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.”
It has been seen that mode of amendment, created by Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who called Pakistan a “schizophrenic ally”, reflects US frustration and anger with a difficult ally.
Shakil Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in jail on Wednesday on charges of treason to collect DNA samples that believed to help the CIA for verify that bin Laden was hiding at a compound in Abbottabad, close to the capital.
