Why Did Shashi Tharoor Criticize Pakistan Over Dr. Shakil Afridi?

Washington, June 8 (NationPress) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has vehemently denounced Pakistan for its treatment of Dr. Shakil Afridi, the doctor who aided the US in tracking down and eliminating Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. This response came after US Congressman Brad Sherman urged a visiting Pakistani delegation to advocate for Dr. Afridi’s release.

On the social media platform X, Sherman stated, "I urged the Pakistani delegation to convey to their government the necessity of liberating Dr. Shakil Afridi, who continues to suffer in prison for assisting the United States in eliminating Osama Bin Laden. Granting freedom to Dr. Afridi marks a significant step towards providing closure for victims of 9/11."

In response, Tharoor, who is currently leading an All-Party Parliamentary Delegation from India to the US, remarked: "A commendable reminder by Rep. @BradSherman that Pakistan is the nation that not only harbored terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden (in a safe house adjacent to an army camp in a cantonment city!) but also detained and punished the courageous doctor who pinpointed his location for the Americans. In Pakistan, you are rewarded for promoting terrorism and punished for exposing terrorists!"

Dr. Shakil Afridi is a Pakistani physician who assisted the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the pursuit of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.

Afridi served as the senior health official in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. In 2008, he was kidnapped by Mangal Bagh, a bus driver turned commander of the Pakistani militant group, Lashkar-e-Islam.

The Indian delegation in the US also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue located opposite the Indian Embassy in Washington, upholding a tradition observed in all the countries they visited.

"Once again, as in all the nations the delegation visited, we were able to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue opposite the Embassy in Washington DC," Tharoor posted.

He further emphasized, "It is remarkable how many world capitals are embellished with statues or busts of the Mahatma, the 20th century's greatest advocate of peace, nonviolence, and human freedom."

Earlier, the delegation conducted a significant meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The Indian Embassy in Washington shared the update on the social media platform X, stating:

"The All Party Parliamentary delegation led by Dr. @ShashiTharoor engaged in a warm and candid discussion with US Deputy Secretary of State @DeputySecState today. The Indian Delegation briefed him on the atrocities of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor," the embassy posted.

Earlier on Thursday, the Delegation had an "excellent meeting" with United States Vice President J.D. Vance in Washington, updating him on Operation Sindoor, terrorism faced by India, and regional security.