Pakistan never responded to US efforts for Aafia’s repatriation: Diplomatic sources

ISLAMABAD - The US had contacted Pakistan a number of times for repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui to her home country, but received no response from the Pakistan Government, American diplomatic sources have disclosed.

According to a private TV channel report, US diplomatic sources had informed Government of Pakistan after a court’s verdict in February 2010 that repatriation of Dr Aafia to Pakistan was possible, The Nation reported.

The report further said that Interior Minister Rehman Malik was told if Pakistan signed the world agreement for prisoners exchange, then it could be decided how Aafia could be repatriated to Pakistan, but the government did not respond from April 2010 to July 2010 to solve the issue.

The sources emphasised if Aafia would not be handed over to Pakistan in future, the Pakistani Government would be responsible for it.

However, when contacted, Malik stated that the government had done its best to get Aafia back from the American detention.

Last week, a US federal court had sentenced Aafia to 86 years in prison for trying to kill American agents and military officers after Afghan police detained her in 2008. (ANI)