Pak hints readiness to 'bridge gap' with US on Dr. Afridi ahead of key meetings

Ahead of his crucial meetings with top Trump administration officials, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has indicated that Islamabad may be willing to discuss the fate of Dr Shakil Afridi, one of the key issues which has hurt ties with the US.

While Afridi is hailed as a "hero" by the US security establishment for his role in the raid by US special forces in May 2011 that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, he is viewed as a "traitor" in Pakistan.

The 56-year-old physician helped the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) run a fake hepatitis vaccine programme in Abbottabad to confirm bin Laden's presence in the garrison city by obtaining his DNA samples.

In May, 2012, Afridi was sentenced to 33 years' imprisonment for treason.

"Openings are always there," Qureshi said in an interview with Fox News, a channel that is known for backing President Trump and his policies.

"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," Qureshi said when asked about the fate of Dr. Afridi.

He said that the future of Afridi lies with the courts and not with politics. He added that the now-imprisoned CIA asset went through the due legal process and was given a fair trial and a 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," said Qureshi while alluding to interference by the US in the country's internal affairs.

Qureshi acknowledged that bilateral relations between the once-close allies have "soured" since President Trump took office last year.

The relations between Pakistan and the US nosedived after President Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists.

The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan's defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year.

The foreign minister reiterated that Pakistan was unjustly blamed for the deteriorating security situation in war-torn Afghanistan.

"Pakistan is there to help and facilitate, we recognise that a stable and peaceful Afghanistan is in our interest,"