ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and the United States are locked in an unusual diplomatic deadlock over granting diplomatic immunity to a US diplomat, who killed three young Pakistanis.
“It appears to be between the devil and deep blue sea.”
Raymond Davis killed two Pakistani youths in a busy area in northeastern city of Lahore last month.
Davis, whom US officials describe as a “technical expert” at the US embassy in Islamabad, says the killing was self-defense as the two youths riding a bike tried to loot him
However, police investigations and the post-mortem report disclosed that the two youths received 9 bullets fired by Davis, mostly on their backs.
A third youth was crushed by a US embassy vehicle that reached the venue to rescue Davis, who tried to flee the scene but intercepted and arrested by the police.
According to US media, Davis runs a private security firm in Washington and has been working for the CIA, and XE security company, the new face of Blacwatter, which earned notoriety in Iraq due to its inhuman ways of torture and private jails.
However, the Obama administration insists that Davis is a diplomat and has continuously been pressurizing the fragile Pakistani government to grant diplomatic immunity and release him immediately.
Interestingly, the US embassy, which insists that Davis is an embassy employee, admits that Raymond Davis is a cover name, but cannot disclose his identity.
The embassy did not elaborate as to why Davis was carrying such sophisticated unlicensed weapons and a private vehicle with fake registration number.
As per diplomatic laws, diplomats are entitled to travel in vehicles with special registration numbers allotted by the government.
Police officials complain that Davis is not cooperating with the investigators.
“He is not ready to tell us that why he was traveling in a private car, and why did he go to venue, where he shot and killed those youths?” a senior police official told OnIslam.net.
National Self-respect
The Pakistani government says that the matter is now in court.
“The government is under extreme pressure from two sides. The America and the people of Pakistan,” Ali said.
“Sentiments are running too high. If the government releases Davis, it will have to face the people’s wrath, and if it doesn’t, it will have to bear the curse of America, which could be in different forms.”
Political and religious parties are holding rallies and demonstrations against possible grant of diplomatic immunity and release of Davis.
The situation has gone more emotional after Shumaila, widow of Fahim, one of the two youths killed by Davis, committed suicide on February 5, against what she told doctors at her last breath that she did not expect justice from Pakistani and US governments in regard to murder of her husband.
Political analysts say that the suicide has turned the things more difficult for the government.
“Earlier, as per my knowledge, there were bright chances of Davis’s release under diplomatic immunity, but now it is not a walk in the park. Things have gone very difficult, especially for our government,” Ali observed.
Arif Bahar, an Islamabad-based senior columnist, agrees.
“It has become an issue of national self-respect now. Not only right-wing but left-wing parties too have joined hands on the issue,” Bahar told OnIslam.net, citing the hard-hitting speeches of parliamentarians lambasting the US attitude.
But Bahar equally gives weight to an immense US pressure.
“Self-respect issue is very much there, but unfortunately, it is important for masses only. The ruling elite don’t give much weight to such terminologies,” he said.
“I suspect the government would not be able sustain the pressure if it doesn’t play its cards carefully and tactfully.”
The US administration has reportedly postponed high-level talks with Pakistani officials, scheduled to be held in Washington this month, in a bid to pile pressures on Pakistan.
According to US media, the Obama administration has halted the delivery of 18 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan Air Force.
Pakistani officials, however, deny any US pressures on Islamabad to release the diplomat.
“Ties between Pakistan and US are based on mutual respect. High-level talks will be held as per schedule,” foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit said.
The US embassy in Islamabad also denies the media reports.
Analysts warn that if the independent judiciary had not intervened, the government would be forced to release Davis much earlier.
The Lahore High Court has ordered the government to put the name of Davis in Exit Control List in order not to be able to leave the country until the matter is resolved.
“But if the government bows to the US pressure and grants diplomatic immunity to Davis, the courts will appear to be helpless then,” Baher said.
Analysts think that the US pressures, whether successful on granting immunity to Davis or not, have ruined Washington’s efforts to improve image in Pakistan.
“This has fueled the public anger,” Bahar said.
“They (people) were already angry with the US over drone attacks, and this incident has further fanned the anti-US sentiments.
“Pakistanis are within their right to ask that what would be the reaction of American administration, if a Pakistani diplomat had killed three US citizens in Washington?
“American government insists Pakistanis to respect the verdict of the US court that awarded 86 years imprisonment to Dr Aafia Siddiqui just because she raised gun on a US soldier during detention. Whereas it has no respect to Pakistani courts, which are trying a US mercenary, who has killed three persons cold-bloodedly.”
Source: OnIslam