The United States has chosen to keep its “diplomatic communications” concerning Dr. Aafia Siddiqui confidential, following an appeal from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who requested U.S. President Joe Biden to release her on humanitarian grounds.
The Pakistani High Court had instructed the government to submit a detailed report on diplomatic efforts aimed at securing Dr. Siddiqui’s release. In response, the government presented a letter dated October 13, in which PM Sharif directly appealed to President Biden to reconsider her case, citing humanitarian reasons.
During a press briefing, Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the U.S. State Department, stated, “I won’t discuss private diplomatic communications, and regarding Dr. Siddiqui’s case, I’d direct you to the Department of Justice.”
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is currently serving her sentence in a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas, with no possibility of parole.
In his letter, PM Sharif expressed concern about the significant impact of Siddiqui’s incarceration on her mental and physical health, stressing fears of potential self-harm. He emphasized his responsibility to safeguard Pakistani citizens and urged President Biden to grant clemency, saying millions of Pakistanis anticipated this “act of kindness.”
In response to questions about a Pakistani doctor’s death following police action under blasphemy laws, Patel said, “We oppose blasphemy laws globally, including in Pakistan, as they threaten human rights and freedoms, particularly freedom of expression and religion. We consistently raise these issues with countries, including Pakistan.”
When asked about the Indian Enquiry Committee’s recent meeting with State Department officials concerning an alleged murder plot against a Sikh activist by Indian agents, Patel noted that the discussions were productive and information was shared to further investigations.
He added, “We expect accountability based on these investigations, and the U.S. will remain engaged until meaningful accountability is achieved.”
