US, allies squeeze Pak's economic lifeline to free jailed diplomat
WASHINGTON: Intense pressure and heat from the US and its allies has melted Pakistan's jingoistic tenacity to try an American national, who Washington maintains is a diplomat, for murder by shooting of two Pakistanis in Lahore.
Islamabad is now preparing grounds to return Raymond Davis, the US official, after duly absolving him in a legal process that once threatened to convict him in a trumped up response to organized political and public pressure.
The Pakistani decision follows high-level diplomatic activity, including a phone call from secretary of state Hillary
Clinton to President Zardari, to resolve the matter. The Associated Press cited two Pakistani officials in the US as saying they expect Davis to be free in days, once a Pakistani court goes over documents US officials have submitted to prove his diplomatic status.
But the officials said their government had to let the case proceed until the US produced the necessary documents on Davis' status, , in what appeared to be a face-saving procedural delay.
Washington also deployed its European allies in its efforts to secure Davis's release. Pakistan suddenly found that tariff concession it expected from the EU was being delayed and the IMF was turning off the financial spigot. The effort was followed up by Clinton's call to Zardari.
Islamabad is now preparing grounds to return Raymond Davis, the US official, after duly absolving him in a legal process that once threatened to convict him in a trumped up response to organized political and public pressure.
The Pakistani decision follows high-level diplomatic activity, including a phone call from secretary of state Hillary
Clinton to President Zardari, to resolve the matter. The Associated Press cited two Pakistani officials in the US as saying they expect Davis to be free in days, once a Pakistani court goes over documents US officials have submitted to prove his diplomatic status.
But the officials said their government had to let the case proceed until the US produced the necessary documents on Davis' status, , in what appeared to be a face-saving procedural delay.
Washington also deployed its European allies in its efforts to secure Davis's release. Pakistan suddenly found that tariff concession it expected from the EU was being delayed and the IMF was turning off the financial spigot. The effort was followed up by Clinton's call to Zardari.
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