Pakistan’s Supreme Court this week overturned the conviction of the terrorist who, in 2002, kidnapped and murdered American journalist Daniel Pearl. The Pakistani government is attempting to prevent Ahmad Omar Sheikh’s release, but the U.S. should clarify that it will not tolerate his freedom.

President Biden should make clear to Islamabad that all options are on the table. As a first step, the Biden administration should warn that Sheikh’s release will lead the U.S. to cut aid and obstruct Pakistani efforts to be removed from the FATF illicit finance list (escaping that list is a top Pakistani government priority). But that’s just the start. Biden should also be prepared to issue a kinetic strike (kill) order against Sheikh. If the terrorist is released, he should quickly be introduced to a Hellfire missile.