Clemency or Controversy: Pakistani Delegation Urges US Pardon for Jailed Neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui
The effort to secure the release of Siddiqui represents a political gamble for Islamabad, as the US regards him as a terrorist, experts say
[Islamabad] A high-level Pakistani delegation traveled to the United States earlier this month to seek the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist serving an 86-year sentence in a US prison for attempting to kill American personnel in Afghanistan. Led by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, the group came to urge US authorities to consider freeing Siddiqui on humanitarian grounds, as Islamabad and her family claim her incarceration is unjust and has severely affected her health.
During their visit, the delegation met with senior US officials, explored legal avenues, and held a three-hour meeting with Siddiqui at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell, in Fort Worth, Texas, a facility for female inmates requiring special medical and mental health care. Psychiatrist Dr. Iqbal Afridi was part of this meeting. Another delegate, Senator Talha Mehmood, spoke exclusively to The Media Line from Dallas and described the encounter with Siddiqui as “hopeful.”
Mehmood explained, “US President Joe Biden might grant her a pardon. There comes a time when an outgoing president pardons many individuals. Currently, President Biden has over 60 pardon requests, including Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s. We hope her request will be prioritized, and the president will kindly consider it.”
In addition to Senator Butt and Senator Mehmood, some senior government officials and Dr. Afridi joined the delegation. They met with US senators, high-ranking State Department officials, and local community leaders, and worked with the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), a national grassroots organization dedicated to serving Muslim communities in North America.
She has already served 16 years, well beyond the 10-year sentence typically given for attempted murder in the US
Dr. Afridi said, “Siddiqui has endured 20 years of separation from her children and has already served 16 years of her sentence.” According to Mehmood, Siddiqui expressed deep concern about her continued imprisonment and longed to see her family. “She has already served 16 years, well beyond the 10-year sentence typically given for attempted murder in the US. She is missing her children, parents, and relatives, and her primary wish is to be freed from prison,” he said.
Mehmood added that Siddiqui’s release would influence global perceptions, especially in the Muslim world, and reflect positively on the United States by demonstrating a commitment to fairness and compassion. He thanked US authorities for their respectful treatment of the Pakistani delegation and for providing an environment that allowed them to meet Siddiqui face-to-face.
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Mehmood, a seasoned Pakistani politician, first encountered Siddiqui in 2008 when she was brought to Pakistan in critical condition under US custody. Witnessing her condition, he became a vocal advocate for her release and has championed her cause on various platforms ever since.
In October 2024, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a letter to President Biden urging Siddiqui’s release on humanitarian grounds due to her deteriorating health. Emphasizing his duty to protect Pakistani citizens and uphold justice, Sharif wrote: “I urgently request that President Biden exercise his authority as the leader of the United States to grant clemency to Aafia Siddiqui and secure her release on humanitarian grounds.”
Born in Karachi, Siddiqui moved to the US in 1990 on a student visa, earned a neuroscience doctorate from Brandeis University, and had been involved as an MIT undergraduate with the Muslim Students Association. Reports suggest she raised funds for an organization later linked to al-Qaida. After returning to Pakistan in 2002, she divorced her first husband and married Ammar al-Baluchi, a nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/11 mastermind.
Following Mohammed’s 2003 capture, Siddiqui was implicated as an al-Qaida courier and disappeared after the FBI issued a global alert. In 2008, she was arrested in Afghanistan carrying cyanide and documents referring to US landmarks. During questioning, she allegedly grabbed a US officer’s rifle and opened fire, resulting in her being shot. In 2010, she was convicted and sentenced to 86 years in prison. Her imprisonment sparked protests in Pakistan, where she is viewed by many as a symbol of resistance to perceived injustices.
Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to secure her release unfold against the backdrop of complex US-Pakistan relations, shaped by counterterrorism partnerships and the legacy of the post-9/11 era. Observers say these historical tensions pose considerable challenges.
This high-level visit is a gamble by the Pakistani government. Success in this mission would deliver a massive political boost.
Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington and a leading US foreign policy expert, told The Media Line, “This high-level visit is a gamble by the Pakistani government. Success in this mission would deliver a massive political boost, given that Siddiqui is such a cause of célèbre in Pakistan. But if the mission fails and she isn’t released, the government will be slammed for pulling a hopeless publicity stunt at a time of significant stress in Pakistan.”
Kugelman doubted the current administration would grant clemency. “I don’t think this push by Pakistan will secure her freedom. Successive US governments, including the current one, view her as a terrorist, and I can’t imagine the Biden administration granting someone like that clemency.” He noted that Islamabad might hope for a different approach from an incoming US administration: “Trump is all about the art of the deal and may be open to discussing some type of prisoner swap, especially one involving Shakil Afridi.” Still, he cautioned, “Trump, I suspect, would ultimately be unwilling to release or swap Siddiqui. He’s not one to go easy on terrorists.”
Ahsan Qazi, a San Francisco-based socio-political expert focusing on international law, told The Media Line that “the case of Aafia Siddiqui is a striking example of US power dynamics and their far-reaching implications for international legal norms.” He said, “Siddiqui’s detention, trial, and imprisonment since 2008 have drawn widespread controversy, with critics arguing that the US has prioritized national security at the expense of due process, human rights, and fair trial guarantees.”
Siddiqui’s case highlights broader concerns about the US exercising its authority in ways that often undermine international law, justice, and detainee rights
Qazi argued that Siddiqui’s case reveals deeper issues tied to US policies in the region. “Siddiqui’s case highlights broader concerns about the US exercising its authority in ways that often undermine international law, justice, and detainee rights,” he said. “These practices are particularly evident in the context of post-9/11 national security policies, which continue to shape American actions.”
He noted Pakistan’s sacrifices during the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and its aftermath, and said that Washington’s limited diplomatic engagement has yet to restore trust. “The US must reflect on its failed war and policies, particularly its abandonment of Afghanistan, which has jeopardized the future of Afghans and deeply affected neighboring Pakistan,” Qazi explained.
Citing “the recent US actions as evidence suggesting that negotiation and diplomacy remain viable options in Siddiqui’s case,” Qazi referenced President Biden’s pardon of his son and American congressmen defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against accusations of crimes against humanity. He said this demonstrated that the US is capable of acting to uphold humanitarian values.
Qazi concluded, “Calls for Siddiqui’s release reflect the need for the US to align its stated commitment to global justice with actions that prioritize fairness and respect for international norms. This move would not only restore trust but also help both nations navigate the growing global political and economic landscape.”
