The United States is yet to see reports on Pakistan's readiness to discuss Dr Shakil Afridi's release from jail. Afridi, who helped US's Central Investigation Agency (CIA) in tracking down Osama bin Laden, is considered a CIA hero.

However, back home, Dr Afridi has been branded as a traitor and was sent behind bars by the Pakistani regime. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had recently told Fox News that Islamabad is open to talks about his release from jail.

Reacting to the statement, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said, "Yeah, I think they've been saying that for quite some time that there could be some movement on that. We have yet to see that."

Nauert also spoke about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's meeting with Qureshi on Tuesday, "I can confirm with you that the Secretary did meet with his counterpart at the State Department today. I'm not sure exactly when that was. It was sometime this afternoon. I don't have a readout of that meeting just yet. If I have one to bring for you, provide to you, I certainly will. But we had a good trip when the Secretary (Mike Pompeo) went to Pakistan and had good, fruitful meetings with the Pakistani Government."

Commenting on Dr Afridi's fate, Qureshi had told Fox News, "Openings are always there. He is viewed in a particular light in Pakistan; he is viewed as a traitor in Pakistan. But he is viewed as a friend in the US. So we have to bridge this gap."

He asserted that courts will decide Afridi's fate and not politics."We have a legal process. Afridi went through that legal process, he was given a fair chance to plead his case.

He was sentenced, he was convicted and is serving a sentence. We expect you to respect our legal process, as we respect yours," Qureshi added.

Afridi, who has been awarded a 33-year sentence in 2012, is believed to have committed treason by working with CIA, after running a fake vaccine programme, which helped the agency to confirm Osama's presence in Abbottabad.

However, he was convicted on the pretext of having ties with a terrorist group called Lashkar e-Islam. His lawyers have denied the claims of his ties with the terrorist outfit by calling them bogus.

Even before being elected as the US President last year, Donald Trump had promised to facilitate Dr Afridi`s release.

The United States is yet to see reports on Pakistan's readiness to discuss Dr Shakil Afridi's release from jail. Afridi, who helped US's Central Investigation Agency (CIA) in tracking down Osama bin Laden, is considered a CIA hero.

The United States is yet to see reports on Pakistan's readiness to discuss Dr Shakil Afridi's release from jail. Afridi, who helped US's Central Investigation Agency (CIA) in tracking down Osama bin Laden, is considered a CIA hero. However, back home, Dr Afridi has been branded as a traitor and was sent behind bars by the Pakistani regime. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had recently told Fox News that Islamabad is open to talks about his release from jail. Reacting to the statement, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said, "Yeah, I think they've been saying that for quite some time that there could be some movement on that. We have yet to see that." Nauert also spoke about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's meeting with Qureshi on Tuesday, "I can confirm with you that the Secretary did meet with his counterpart at the State Department today. I'm not sure exactly when that was. It was sometime this afternoon. I don't have a readout of that meeting just yet. If I have one to bring for you, provide to you, I certainly will. But we had a good trip when the Secretary (Mike Pompeo) went to Pakistan and had good, fruitful meetings with the Pakistani Government." Commenting on Dr Afridi's fate, Qureshi had told Fox News, "Openings are always there. He is viewed in a particular light in Pakistan; he is viewed as a traitor in Pakistan. But he is viewed as a friend in the US. So we have to bridge this gap." He asserted that courts will decide Afridi's fate and not politics."We have a legal process. Afridi went through that legal process, he was given a fair chance to plead his case. He was sentenced, he was convicted and is serving a sentence. We expect you to respect our legal process, as we respect yours," Qureshi added. Afridi, who has been awarded a 33-year sentence in 2012, is believed to have committed treason by working with CIA, after running a fake vaccine programme, which helped the agency to confirm Osama's presence in Abbottabad. However, he was convicted on the pretext of having ties with a terrorist group called Lashkar e-Islam. His lawyers have denied the claims of his ties with the terrorist outfit by calling them bogus. Even before being elected as the US President last year, Donald Trump had promised to facilitate Dr Afridi`s release.

US yet to see reports on Pakistan's willingness to release Dr Afridi

American financial assistance to Pakistan is under review, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told lawmakers today and accused Islamabad of treating US diplomats "badly".&nbsp;

Pompeo was responding to questions from Congressman Dana Rohrabacher who said the US should stop providing any financial assistance to Pakistan until it releases Shakil Afridi, a doctor who helped the CIA hunt down Osama bin Laden in 2011.

"With respect to Pakistan, we released far fewer funds in 2018 than in the year prior. The remainder of the funds available are under review. My guess is that that number will be smaller still," he told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Rohrabacher said he sees no "reason" in giving any financial aid to Pakistan if it still keeps Afridi in jail.

Pompeo said he worked "diligently" on the issue of Afridi in his previous role as the CIA Director, but acknowledged that he has been "unsuccessful" so far.

"Please be aware that it's at my heart and I know it's important and we can do that. We can achieve that outcome," he said.

Rohrabacher intervened by saying that the situation is getting "worse" in Pakistan.&nbsp;

"These people in Karachi and the Sindhs and the others, they're now facing these people who are killing their leaders or killing their people who believe in certain things that are different than the radical Islamic philosophy of some of the people in the Pakistani government," he alleged.&nbsp;

Besides financial assistance issue, Pompeo said, the US also needs to take note of treatment meted out to American diplomats by Pakistan.

"Our State Department officials are being treated badly as well. Folks working in the embassies and in the consulates and other places are not being treated well by the Pakistani government either, a real problem that we need to take the measure of also," he said.

Congressman Brad Sharman hoped that the US State Department would reach out to the leaders of Pakistan about the "forced disappearances in Sind".

Pompeo was responding to questions from Congressman Dana Rohrabacher who said the US should stop providing any financial assistance to Pakistan until it releases Shakil Afridi, a doctor who helped the CIA hunt down Osama bin Laden in 2011

American financial assistance to Pakistan is under review, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told lawmakers today and accused Islamabad of treating US diplomats "badly". Pompeo was responding to questions from Congressman Dana Rohrabacher who said the US should stop providing any financial assistance to Pakistan until it releases Shakil Afridi, a doctor who helped the CIA hunt down Osama bin Laden in 2011. "With respect to Pakistan, we released far fewer funds in 2018 than in the year prior. The remainder of the funds available are under review. My guess is that that number will be smaller still," he told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Rohrabacher said he sees no "reason" in giving any financial aid to Pakistan if it still keeps Afridi in jail. Pompeo said he worked "diligently" on the issue of Afridi in his previous role as the CIA Director, but acknowledged that he has been "unsuccessful" so far. "Please be aware that it's at my heart and I know it's important and we can do that. We can achieve that outcome," he said. Rohrabacher intervened by saying that the situation is getting "worse" in Pakistan. "These people in Karachi and the Sindhs and the others, they're now facing these people who are killing their leaders or killing their people who believe in certain things that are different than the radical Islamic philosophy of some of the people in the Pakistani government," he alleged. Besides financial assistance issue, Pompeo said, the US also needs to take note of treatment meted out to American diplomats by Pakistan. "Our State Department officials are being treated badly as well. Folks working in the embassies and in the consulates and other places are not being treated well by the Pakistani government either, a real problem that we need to take the measure of also," he said. Congressman Brad Sharman hoped that the US State Department would reach out to the leaders of Pakistan about the "forced disappearances in Sind".

Financial assistance to Pakistan under review: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

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US yet to see reports on Pakistan's willingness to release Dr Afridi

Financial assistance to Pakistan under review: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo