US response to Pakistan's letter for Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s release

Washington: Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, Vedant Patel, expressed his reaction to the letter written by the government of Pakistan regarding the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

Reacting to the issue of Aafia Siddiqui's release letter during a press briefing in Washington, Vedant Patel said he would not discuss private diplomatic communications.

The US Deputy Spokesperson stated that the Department of Justice can be approached to discuss any inquiries related to Dr Aafia's case and imprisonment.

To a question regarding the extrajudicial killing of Dr Shahnawaz by the police in Umarkot, he added that blasphemy laws are equally opposed everywhere in the world, including Pakistan.

US State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant further said such laws threaten the exercise of human rights, and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, religion or belief.