U.S. acknowledges CIA contact imprisoned in Pakistan

For the first time, the U.S. is acknowledging that a doctor held on suspicion of treason in Pakistan, was working for the CIA to find Osama bin Laden. This acknowledgement came in an interview with "60 Minutes" about Dr. Shikal Afridi, who attempted to confirm that bin Laden was inside that hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The house had been under surveillance for eight months. But the CIA couldn't confirm that bin Laden was there. Dr. Afridi, got inside the compound under the pretense of running an immunization program. But he never saw bin Laden. Afridi was arrested after the raid. Leon Panetta was the CIA director in charge of the raid. He's now Secretary of Defense.

"60 Minutes":The Defense Secretary: An interview with Leon Panetta

Pelley: There is a Pakistani doctor, who, as we understand it, was helping our efforts there. A man named Shikal Afridi. He's now been charged with treason in Pakistan and I wonder what you think of that?

An image obtained by Reuters shows the outside of Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad complex shortly after the U.S. raid that killed the al Qaeda leader.

/ Reuters

Pannetta: I'm very concerned about what the Pakistanis did with this individual. This was an individual, who, in fact, helped provide intelligence that was very helpful with regards to this operation. And he was not, in any way treasonous towards Pakistan. He was not, in any way, doing anything that would have undermined Pakistan. As a matter of fact, if Pakistan's -- and I've always said this -- Pakistan and the United States have a common cause here against terrorism. ... And for them to take this kind of action against somebody who was helping to go after terrorism, I just think is a real mistake on their part.

Pelley: They should free him?

Panetta: They can take whatever steps they want to do to discipline him, but ultimately he ought to be released.

Dr. Alfridi is still being held. CBS News has no information on whether he will stand trial. The Pakistani government has not explained why a man who helped find Osama bin Laden is accused of treason.

Watch the full "60 Minutes" interview with Leon Panetta

[decotoguy]

Dr. Afridi is lying, conniving, scandalous little man that betray his own countrymen.
Is he the type of people Americans can call a "friend"?

[fedup12]

So a guy whose only job was to help us try to get Bin Laden is in jail for treason?

CMON Government WAKE UP. If we needed any proof that Pakistan was our enemy and was hiding Bin Laden THERE IT IS.

Can we now QUIT giving them our money?

[hajimuhammud]

What aid you are talking about?The american presence in Afghanistan has caused tremendous loss to Pakistan financialy i.e.$70 billion dollars and you are talking about stoping aid which is kept in usa 70%.If that make you happy stop it and just pack your bags and take your terrorist army out of the region.You are creating more harm than good.

[berlinfoto-2009]

May be Americans should think about what they have done at Abu Ghraib, and Guantanamo Bay, as well many black sights spread around the world, now that a American friend is in prison in Pakistan.
We also torture in the United States as well, this is kept out of the news, but it does occur frequently, by the thought police who try to control what we think, just like in the book "Nineteen Eighty Four" by George Orwell.
I personally have been some sort of re-education program for years, but I keep failing to re-educate.

[a------------------b]

Dear Pakistanis,

If all he has done was to 'betray' Bin Laden, then he did you a favor. You will come to realize this sooner or later.

Thanks

A well-meaning person

[Robert_M1]

Dr. Afridi is a friend of the USA. Time to send Seal 6 to free this man from imprisonment?