U.S. announces repatriation of oldest Gitmo prisoner

The U.S. has released the oldest prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, repatriating him to Pakistan after nearly 20 years in prison.

Saifullah Paracha, 75, will return to his homeland after being detained at Gitmo in 2003. He was suspected of financing the terrorist group of al-Qaeda in the years immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. 

The U.S. Department of Defense on Saturday said the decision was made "in consultation with our Pakistani partners."

"The United States appreciates the willingness of Pakistan and other partners to support ongoing U.S. efforts focused on responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the Guantanamo Bay facility," the Pentagon said in a press release. 

Prior to his arrest, Paracha had been suspected of having contact with top global terrorist leaders, including Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.