Raymond Davis issue: US denies putting bilateral relations with Pakistan on hold

As allies in global war against terror are at crossroad, the United States on Tuesday denied putting bilateral relations with Pakistan on hold till the release of Raymond Davis, charged with killing of two Pakistanis in Lahore while Pakistan said their relations were 'mature' enough to navigate through difficulties.
The January 27 incident of triple murder in Lahore has strained relations between the two countries with Washington's insistence on immediate release of Raymond Davis, who shot and killed two, and Pakistan referral to the court for a decision. Talking to this scribe, Courtney Beale, Acting Spokesman for the US Embassy denied the media report that US had put all bilateral contacts with Pakistan on hold until release of Raymond Davis. However, she said that 'United States is engaged in high-level contacts with Pakistan over the issue.'
Meanwhile, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said, "our relations are mature enough to navigate through difficulties. We must not deviate from focusing on the strategic imperatives of Pak-US relations." He said our relations were anchored in mutual interest and respect and both countries were committed to further strengthening the bilateral relationship to mutual benefit.
However, analysts believe that the shootings have not only strained relations between the two countries but had also inflamed anti-American sentiment in Pakistan. And suicide of Shumaila Kanwal, the widow of Faheem Ahmed who was gunned down by Davis, added fuel to the fire. Media reports suggest that Shumaila Kanwal had killed herself after learning Davis would be handed over to US government without trail.
Washington insists that Raymond Davis is a diplomat and enjoys immunity from criminal prosecution under Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Over the past few days, the US has mounted pressure on Islamabad for his release by approaching President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani over the issue through its Ambassador in Pakistan and a visiting congressional delegation.
Prime Minister Gilani while addressing the National Assembly last week had spelt out official stance that the issue would be decided by the court. But the US has not given up and is in 'high-level' contact with the government over the issue, which according to some media reports has been agreed in principle.