A Pakistan court has deferred judgement on whether Raymond Davis has diplomatic immunity
Islamabab - A Pakistani intelligence official said Monday that an American in custody for killing two men was an undercover CIA contractor, setting off new friction in a crisis with the United States.
Washington voiced fear for the safety of Raymond Davis, who says he acted in self-defence. The United States has put intense pressure on Pakistan to free him, arguing that he enjoys diplomatic immunity.
But the unpopular government in Pakistan is also feeling heat from the political opposition not to cave in to US demands, with analysts even warning that the case could bring down the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
"It is beyond any shadow of a doubt that he was working for CIA," an official from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"He's on contract. He's not a regular CIA guy, but he's working for CIA. That's confirmed," the Pakistani official said.
US Senator Lindsey Graham also last week referred to Davis as an "agent." Davis was arrested in eastern Pakistan, the base of virulently anti-Indian groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba which was linked to the 2008 siege of Mumbai.
Police told AFP they recovered a Glock pistol, four loaded magazines, a GPS navigation system and a small telescope from his car, after the shooting on a busy street in Lahore on January 27.
A third Pakistani was struck down and killed by a US diplomatic vehicle that came to Davis's assistance. US officials denied Pakistan access to the vehicle and the occupants are widely believed to have left the country.
Washington has postponed a round of talks with Afghanistan and Pakistan, but Islamabad has said the matter is before the courts, although one compromise would be for the families to pardon Davis, in keeping with Islamic law.
"We remain concerned about him and our message to Pakistan remains he should be released as soon as possible," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said in Washington.
Crowley said Pakistan has told the United States that Davis is staying "in the safest possible location in Lahore," adding: "Clearly, we hold the government of Pakistan fully responsible for his safety."
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the lower house on Monday that he was confident "that both the Pakistani and the US governments will not allow the Davis case to come in the way of mutually beneficial partnership".
He said Pakistan was mindful of its international obligations under the Vienna Convention and other agreements.
But he added: "I want to assure this House and the nation that my government will not compromise on Pakistan's sovereignty and dignity. We are a responsible government and conscious of the sentiments of our people."
On Monday, a judge at Lahore's top court ordered the government to appear on March 14 to respond to private petitions related to Davis' incarceration, the law on diplomatic privileges.
The court last week deferred any judgement on whether Davis has diplomatic immunity and gave the foreign ministry until March 14 to determine his status.
In Washington, a US official said that the diplomatic immunity was "about as clear as it gets under international law."
The US embassy in Islamabad informed Pakistan more than a year ago, on January 20, 2010, that Davis was working for its "administrative and technical staff" and Pakistan did not object, the official said on condition of anonymity.
"Any other form of action, including a judicial proceeding or any other action, is inconsistent with his status as a member of a diplomatic mission. It would only compound the violations of international law," the official said.
"When someone enters our country, if that person is notified as a member of the administrative and technical staff of a diplomatic mission, that's the end of the story," he said.
US Senator John Kerry visited Pakistan last week to express regret and say Davis would face a criminal investigation at home, but hopes for a swift resolution now appear unlikely.
Local analysts suggested Pakistani intelligence had deliberately decided to complicate the case in order to put pressure on the government and the United States, with whom relations have been troubled over the war in Afghanistan.
"This would be seen as a kind of deliberate attempt to make the situation more difficult and complex to handle, and this provides additional material to the Islamic groups to adopt a hardline stance," said analyst Hasan Askari.
"These (intelligence) groups are not happy with the way America was building pressure on Pakistan on the war on terrorism.
"If it goes to the street and massive agitation, all political parties will find it a good opportunity to knock the PPP out of power," he said.
the mainstream media coverage is more interesting, same as the sudden coverage of Egyptian protests, which have been going on for a couple of years over economy/job issues mostly. Suddenly the push in this agenda... why? Is it in the script, and if so, whose? Seems the above Pakistan issue is potentially a sign of the SG level taking the overthrow of the Old World Order to the next stage of the game... taking out your own to cover your tracks. 'As above, so below'? Isn't this what the intel agencies do themselves, such as with the Kennedy hit? Then all the assassins are hit as well.
Interesting development unfolding, as otherwise, to allow this outing seems so stupid as to be unfathomable. Surely anybody with a brain at Langley knows not to mess with local political issues, the coverup becomes an extreme mess, the type that empires are forced to use when they start to lose control. Direct application of force is definitely a sign of the times. A sign well mentioned in historical studies on the fall of empires, when the empire has to bring in their own troops instead of using domestic ones. The level of force needed then stretches the supply line in all directions and either a pause and pullback to regroup occurs or the inevitable fall from 'grace' or the position of power occurs.
So is this stupidity at Langley again? They are saturated with idiots or psychos these days same as most arms of the empire, so it isn't news, but to make such a public mess in times of transition, when they are so close to grabbing that proverbial brass ring seems delightfully ironic as it does seem the rug is about to be pulled out from under their feet simultaneously as they are do the same to their publics around the world. The consolidation is obvious in all facets of society from political formations to media outlets to economics to the continual monopolization in business etc. Perhaps the same for the worlds intel agencies? The disclosure project perhaps?
Interesting. Maybe they won't see it coming, same as the people they've helped herd for their masters for so long. Slow motion seems in effect watching this flower bloom. Can't help but smile like Amelie [2001 French film], maybe she's playing in this one?