Ishaq Dar raises Aafia Siddiqui, Kashmir issues in US meeting

Ishaq Dar raises Aafia Siddiqui and Kashmir issues in U.S. meeting, urging justice and regional peace. Critics question whether the move will impact America’s long-standing strategic priorities.

WebDesk – July 26, 2025:
In a high-level meeting with senior U.S. officials, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar formally raised two long-standing concerns: the incarceration of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and the unresolved Kashmir conflict.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar conveyed Pakistan’s serious concern over Aafia Siddiqui’s prolonged detention in the U.S. and called for her repatriation on humanitarian grounds. Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist, was convicted in 2010 of attempted murder of U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and is currently serving an 86-year sentence in Texas.

Dar also pushed the Biden administration to revisit its position on Kashmir, calling it “an open wound in South Asia” that continues to threaten regional peace. He reiterated Pakistan’s demand for the implementation of United Nations resolutions allowing Kashmiris the right to self-determination.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue in Washington, was part of Islamabad’s broader effort to reset ties with Washington after years of drift and mutual distrust.

Proponents of Dar’s initiative say his diplomatic push puts human rights and regional justice back on the table.
Critics, however, argue that such symbolic overtures are unlikely to influence Washington’s strategic alignment with India or its stance on U.S. citizens harmed abroad.

The U.S. State Department has yet to issue a formal response to Dar’s requests.