'Blood money' frees CIA contractor in Pakistan

By BABAR DOGAR

Associated Press

LAHORE, Pakistan — A CIA contractor who shot and killed two Pakistani men was freed from prison on Wednesday after the United States paid $2.34 million in "blood money" to the victims' families, Pakistani officials said, defusing a dispute that had strained ties between Washington and Islamabad. 

In what appeared to be carefully choreographed end to the diplomatic crisis, the U.S. Embassy said the Justice Department had opened an investigation into the killings on Jan. 27 by Raymond Allen Davis. It thanked the families for "their generosity" in pardoning Davis, but did not mention any money changing hands.

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CIA mulls targeting Pak diplomats abroad

PakTribune
February 26, 2011

WASHINGTON: Suffering irreparable loss after blowing up of Raymond Davis’ cover in Lahore, the American premier intelligence apparatus is contemplating a tit-for-tat trapping or targeting Pakistani counterparts serving as diplomats abroad.

Well-placed diplomatic sources told Online on condition of anonymity here on Thursday that they had noticed vibes clearly indicating level of frustration and annoyance, especially at the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) upon Islamabad’s constant denial to release Davis on blanket immunity.

According to the sources, putting Davis on trial in Pakistan on charges of double murder in Lahore is proving to be the loss of not just the cover of an agent but also that of a “key asset” in the intelligence jargon for CIA.

“Therefore, it is unlikely that they (American intelligence apparatus) would let it go without returning it to the Pakistani counterparts one way or the other,” the sources added. “Easy prey of this revenge design of the Americans could be Pakistani intelligence staff serving abroad, chiefly in US, Europe, and Afghanistan,” the sources observed. This is already clear for sure that the so-called intelligence sharing in the war on terror has hit a moratorium due to Raymond Davis case.

The sources also informed Online that White House as well as State Department had already cancelled all official invitations to Pakistan’s Ambassador Hussain Haqqani here. “All the US administration outfits in the capital are also under instructions to seek clearance from the White House before interacting with Haqqani, even for official urgencies,” the sources added.

The sources also recalled that Ambassador Haqqani was summoned twice to White House for making demarche even before Senator John Kerry was dispatched to Pakistan for pleading Davis’ diplomatic immunity. The sources pointed out that envoys are generally summoned at the State Department for making demarche as per the diplomatic norms and practices in vogue. “The White House summoning Haqqani twice had clearly indicated that it was CIA’s pressure on the back,” the sources added.

The row over the diplomatic immunity of Davis is still on between the two countries, bringing the bilateral relations to a historic low. The US is claiming diplomatic immunity to Davis while Pakistan is insisting that its courts would decide his status as well privilege, which has strained the relations. Analysts in US believe that ripples of Davis issue could lead to early elections in Pakistan.

The incumbent term of the ruling PPP ends in February 2013.

U.S. Admits Man Being Held In Pakistan C.I.A. "Contractor"

 U.S. Admits Man Being Held In Pakistan C.I.A. "Contractor"

Pakistan orders arrest of second US consular worker

ABC.Net.Au

A Pakistani court has ordered the arrest of a second US consular employee following the fatal shooting of two men in Lahore. 

Consular official Raymond Davis was arrested last month for shooting two men who he says were trying to rob him.

A third man was run over by another official who was sent to pick up Mr Davis.
Lahore politician Ejaz Chaudhry says Pakistan will never bow to US demands to release him because of his apparent diplomatic immunity.

"He is a killer. He is a cold-blooded murderer and the people of Pakistan are very clear about this issue," he said.

"They know Raymond is a spy. He is a terrorist here in Pakistan. And he must be penalised in Pakistan."

Pakistan Official: U.S. Murder Suspect Has Immunity

Pakistan Official: U.S. Murder Suspect Has Immunity

FoxNews.com

A Pakistani official says that a U.S. consulate employee held for the murder of two men is shielded by diplomatic immunity, according to Reuters.

"We will present all relevant laws and rules about immunity before the court and will plead that prima facie it is a case of diplomatic immunity. But it is for the court to decide," the official told Reuters Wednesday, on condition of anonymity.

Raymond Davis has been in custody since Jan. 27, saying he shot the two Pakistanis in Lahore in self-defense as they tried to rob him.

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Anti American Protest In Pakistan Growing After U.S. "Contractor" Shoots 2 People In The Back

Anti American Protest In Pakistan Growing After U.S. "Contractor" Shoots 2 People In The Back

Kerry heads to Pakistan over US gunman

Kerry heads to Pakistan over US gunman

Agence France-Presse

Senator John Kerry is to visit Pakistan late on Tuesday on a mission to resolve a diplomatic row over a US official accused of murdering two Pakistanis. The chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee helped spearhead a record $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan and is respected in the nuclear-armed country on the front line of the US-led war on Al-Qaeda.


He will meet government officials to reassure them of long-term US commitment to Pakistan, said a spokeswoman for the US embassy in Islamabad.

"He's coming tonight to speak with government officials about the relationship and reaffirm support for the strategic relationship," said spokeswoman Courtney Beale.

Pakistan's fragile ties with the US have gone into crisis since police arrested Raymond Davis, who confessed to shooting dead two men in self-defence on a busy street in the eastern city of Lahore on January 27.

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