The United States on Thursday expressed disappointment after the government did not confirm to the Lahore High Court (LHC) that Raymond Davis, the US official charged with killing of two in Lahore last month, was entitled to diplomatic immunity from prosecution.
Reacting to today's hearing in Lahore, which was postponed for March 14 on the request of the government to reply on Davis's status, US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter said that "the United States is disappointed that the Government of Pakistan did not certify that Raymond Davis has diplomatic immunity. He added that the US has made its position on the case clear."
Raymond Davis was arrested on January 27 after he shot and killed two in Lahore. The US is demanding immediate release of Davis under Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. The dispute over diplomatic immunity has severely rattled strategic relationship between Pakistan and United States and Obama administration postponed trilateral meeting of Afghanistan, Pakistan and United States.
In a statement, the US Ambassador referred to the recent visit of Senator Kerry to Pakistan, which he said manifested our intention to work with the Government of Pakistan to resolve the issue. Ambassador Munter said, "As the Senator conveyed during his visit, we want to work together as both the countries that have a common interest and have to find a way forward."
The Ambassador added, "I would also like to convey to the people of Pakistan our deepest sorrow for the loss of life in the tragic incident in Lahore. We all feel the pain and the anguish of families who have lost their loved ones." Earlier, in his statement before leaving for the US, Senator John Kerry had expressed the hope that a way out to be found to resolve the Raymond Davis issue.
"...President Obama and Secretary Clinton have personally asked me to convey to the people of Pakistan our deepest sorrow for the loss of life in the tragic incident. We all feel the pain and the anguish of families who have lost their loved ones. We understand what that's like. And there is nothing that the United States wants more than to see those kinds of incidents disappear forever in the lives of Pakistanis and in our relationship," the statement added.