In a high-stakes diplomatic appeal, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made a direct request to U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him to grant clemency and release Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist serving an 86-year prison sentence in the United States. Sharif’s letter, dated October 13, highlights the humanitarian concerns surrounding Siddiqui’s deteriorating mental and physical health, citing the potential for self-harm. Sharif pressed Biden to use his presidential powers to show “an act of kindness” that would resonate with millions of Pakistanis, for whom Siddiqui has become a symbol of perceived injustice.
Dr. Siddiqui, often referred to as the “Gray Lady of Bagram,” was convicted in 2010 for attempting to kill U.S. officials in Afghanistan. Her case has sparked years of public outcry in Pakistan, where she is widely seen as a victim of wrongful imprisonment and mistreatment by the U.S. government. Protests erupted across Pakistan after her conviction, with many demanding her repatriation. Her sister, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, has been an outspoken advocate for her release, regularly visiting her in a Texas federal prison and filing petitions in the Islamabad High Court.
The appeal comes as Pakistan faces growing pressure from its citizens to secure Siddiqui’s release, with her imprisonment seen as a point of contention in U.S.-Pakistan relations. In court, the Pakistani government presented the letter as evidence of their ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring Siddiqui home. The Islamabad High Court had previously asked for a full report on the government’s efforts to negotiate her release, making this letter a significant development in the case.
Sharif’s move represents the most serious attempt by Pakistan to bring one of its citizens home from U.S. detention, but the challenge remains formidable. The U.S. has long maintained that Siddiqui’s conviction was based on substantial evidence, including her alleged links to al-Qaida, a connection further complicated by her marriage to Ammar al-Baluchi, the nephew of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Although Pakistan’s government has argued that Siddiqui’s rights as a citizen need to be protected, the complex nature of her case, including its ties to counterterrorism efforts, makes negotiations difficult.
Legal experts are split on the likelihood of success. While Pakistan could appeal to the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which highlights the protection of detained citizens, the U.S. remains under no legal obligation to release Siddiqui. Tanveer Akhtar, a senior attorney at Pakistan’s Supreme Court, noted that any release would be at Biden’s discretion, factoring in broader foreign policy and security concerns. “President Biden would weigh not only humanitarian concerns but also the larger counterterrorism narrative in deciding whether to pardon or commute Siddiqui’s sentence,” Akhtar said.
Sharif’s letter also brings the spotlight back to the complex geopolitical relations between the U.S. and Pakistan, which have been shaped by years of counterterrorism efforts, military alliances, and occasional diplomatic tensions. Releasing Siddiqui would be seen as a significant diplomatic victory for Pakistan and could help rebuild trust between the two nations, but it could also be controversial given the charges against her and her association with extremist figures.
Fowzia Siddiqui, the neuroscientist’s sister, remains hopeful, calling this the “first serious step” in years toward her sister’s release. She urged the Pakistani government to intensify their efforts, suggesting that delegations of Pakistani citizens appeal directly to the U.S. government and encouraging Pakistanis to write letters to President Biden, advocating for Aafia Siddiqui’s return.
In Pakistan, Aafia Siddiqui is seen as both a national cause and a victim of harsh U.S. justice, and her case continues to fuel debates about international law, human rights, and diplomatic relations. As pressure mounts on Biden’s administration to respond to Pakistan’s request, the case of Aafia Siddiqui once again rises to the forefront, spotlighting the delicate balance between humanitarianism and national security. How Biden will respond, if at all, remains uncertain, but the eyes of both nations are firmly fixed on this next chapter in U.S.-Pakistan relations.
