Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will introduce legislation when the Senate returns from the Memorial Day recess to cut off all aid to Pakistan until an informant involved in the hunt for Osama bin Laden is released from prison.
Dr. Shakil Afridi was recently sentenced to 33 years behind bars, convicted of “treason” for helping the U.S. locate the world’s most wanted terrorist.
Paul’s bills will come with a one-two punch: In addition to the first bill stripping Pakistan of all aid until his sentence is overturned and he’s set free, the second bill would make Afridi a U.S. citizen.
“Pakistan must understand that they are choosing the wrong side. They accuse Dr. Afridi of working against Pakistan, but he was simply helping the U.S. capture the head of al Qaida. Surely Pakistan is not linking their interests with those of an international terrorist organization,” Paul said.
“Foreign aid has been an abysmal failure precisely for this reason – we give the aid to governments who then turn and work against our national interest. That must end,” he added.
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