Pakistan

Lahore shooting: Obama weighs in on spat

Obama urges Pakistan to release Raymond Davis; Senator Kerry promises criminal investigation by US Justice Department.

Express February 16, 2011

WASHINGTON/ LAHORE:

US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that Pakistan must respect the diplomatic immunity of US ‘consular employee’ Raymond Davis, who is currently in custody for shooting dead two Pakistanis, in a case straining ties between the allies.

In his first public remarks on the issue, Obama said Washington was working with Islamabad to secure the release of Davis, a former member of US Special Forces, who says he acted in self-defence during an ‘armed robbery’ in Lahore last month.

Washington says Davis has diplomatic immunity and should be released but the Pakistan government, fearful of a backlash at home, says the matter should be decided in court. “If our diplomats are in another country, then they are not subject to that country’s local prosecution,” Obama told a news conference in Washington, referring to the Vienna Conventions. “We respect it with respect to diplomats who are here.”

President Obama said his administration wanted the release of Davis. “We’re going to be continuing to work with the Pakistani government to get this person released,” he added. “Obviously, we’re concerned about the loss of life. We’re not callous about that, but there is a broader principle at stake,” Obama said.

US Senator John Kerry, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and member of President Barack Obama’s Democratic Party, is expected to meet Pakistani officials on Wednesday to try to resolve the crisis.

He told a news conference in Lahore that Davis has diplomatic immunity but it does not mean that he is above the law. He assured that the US Justice Department would launch a criminal investigation into the matter. He also assured that proper action would be taken against Davis after the completion of investigation.

Senator Kerry said that both Pakistan and the United States are signatory to the Vienna Conventions. “We respect your courts, but everyone should respect the international laws,” he added.

He offered regrets and sympathies with the bereaved family. “We are deeply, deeply sorry for that tragic incident.”

Senator Kerry, who helped spearhead a record $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan, said that his country wanted to help Pakistan. “I’m not here to be an arbitrator in this case, this is not my job,” he said.

The US senator said the Davis issue would not affect his country’s relations with Pakistan spanning over 60-odd years.

He also sought to tone down rhetoric on the issue, calling for restraint. “All politicians, ours and yours, should step back. We did not show any arrogance but we should respect the law applicable since 50 years.”

Senator Kerry is scheduled to meet Nawaz Sharif, the chief of the ruling party in Punjab, and, if given security clearance, the families of the Lahore shooting victims – Faizan Haider and Faheem Shamshad.

Sharif had had detailed discussions with senior members of his party on the matter on Tuesday. And it was decided that Sharif would tell Senator Kerry that the matter was sub judice and the judicial process should be respected, a well-placed source in the PML-N told The Express Tribune.

An unnamed US official said that Senator Kerry’s mission will be to “help tone down the rhetoric (over the Davis case) and reaffirm the US partnership with Pakistan”.

But an official source said that Washington’s sole concern was not Davis’s fate rather it was concerned about over 500 American intelligence agents who are in Pakistan apparently involved in counter-terrorism operations.

These agents had been given long-term Pakistani visas during the rule of former President Pervez Musharraf and also during the last few months to chase Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in Pakistan, the source said.

The source said that US has already demanded diplomatic status for all of its “men” engaged in counter-terrorism operations in Pakistan.

Agencies with additional reporting by Abdul Manan and Rana Tanvir in Lahore and Qaiser Butt in Islamabad

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2011.

COMMENTS (62)

RizwanTKhan | 13 years ago | Reply Like we all knew, Obama is no different. His call for change which won him election was just a cheap way to win through to the top. Thanks Obama for showing your true color. Nothing can be a bigger eye opener than this for all Pakistanis.

UMER | 13 years ago | Reply well i was there when this all happened he just started shooting from insyd his car without any reason and then he snapped the bodies and then when he saw people are gathering at the spot he got insyd the car and just pushed the vehicles and ran away. .and the other vehicle that was a toyota land cruiser parado. they came off the way and just draaged one guy with them without stopping the vehicle. . they were armed. . US embassy in Pakistan is 99% involved in terrorist activities and this is there planning to keep Pakistan destabalizing. and Obama you are just a punk. . . go n drink and hv a party u didn't lost a son or a brother so u cannot understand this. . u ppl r just concerned with ur policies

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Ahmer Ali | 13 years ago | Reply @Akki(India):If any Indian is killed by an American diplomat in India then what will you do?Will you give diplomatic immunity or not?

obamanation | 13 years ago | Reply obama is like father to pakistan he has been taking care of our economic needs or else we would have no food or shelter he gave us the highest aid when flood struck us even islamic countries didnt who had surplus budget like saudi our father obama protects his kids pakistanis even when they are in recession he even punishes bad kids by drone attacks thus protecting other kids from them pakistanis should love their father back by granting his wish.

Abu Abdullah | 13 years ago | Reply @Ali Turk: Thanks- for sharing the link- The following should clear any doubts Section II, Article 41 of the treaty, in its first paragraph regarding the “Personal inviolability of consular officers,” states: “Consular officers shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a grave crime and pursuant to a decision by the competent judicial authority.” In other words, the prosecutorial, police and judicial authorities in Lahore and the state of Punjab are doing exactly what they are supposed to do in holding Davis on murder charges, pending a judicial determination concerning whether or not he can properly claim diplomatic immunity. The US claim that Pakistan is violating the convention is simply nonsense. There is also the matter of double standards. The US routinely violates the Vienna Diplomatic Accord that governs international diplomatic rights. For example, the same convention requires countries that arrest, jail and prosecute foreigners for crimes to promptly notify the person’s home country embassy, and to grant that embassy the right to provide legal counsel. Yet the US has arrested, charged with murder, and executed many foreign nationals without ever notifying their embassies of their legal jeopardy, and has, on a number of occasions, even gone ahead with executions after a convict’s home country has learned of the situation and requested a stay and a retrial with an embassy-provided defense attorney. The US, in 1997, also prosecuted, over the objections of the government of Georgia, a Georgian embassy diplomat charged with the murder of a 16-year-old girl.

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply No matter what horrendoous crime he has commited, if Davis has Diplomatic Immunity then he cant be arrested, let alone be prosecuted. Simple. Tough luck, Pakistan has ratified this Convention, so you have to live by it. Considering the hole that Pakistan is in with its economy and the kind of generous friends it has, who cannot be counted on, you all better hope that Davis has Diplomatic Immunity, because after 2014 Afghan pullout, there will be no easy money for Pakistan.

sohaib | 13 years ago | Reply So the leader of the hypocrite (read free) world speaks for the killer. if this is not double standards, then what is? Come on Obama stand for justice and fair play. Laws apply to Americans as well as to any other citizen. Americans are not unique or law unto themselves.

Concerned_American | 13 years ago | Reply Come one Pakistani friends...it's time for you also to march to the capital sqaure and topple the government like they did in Tunisia, Egypt and now Libya & Bahrain...REVOLUTION!!!

Truthseeker | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistanis are trying to bite the hand that feeds them. Hmm.... interesting!

Arsalana | 13 years ago | Reply Mr. Obama - Mind your language. He is not a diplomat by our record. Even if he is a diplomat, he cannot killed people on roadside. Only way is to go and beg the families of deceased people. If they pardon the killer, he can fly back to US.

I am a responsible and civilized citizen of Pakistan | 13 years ago | Reply We needn't care about what is at stake for America if we don't release Davis. We should care about what is at stake for Pakistan if we release and return Davis to America. There is no way that we compromise on our own laws and values just to carry on with this so-called Pak-US relationship(friendship) which lasts as far as American interests are served.

Rehan | 13 years ago | Reply To see how a principled nation deals with a spat with injustice, read how bravely the Argentinians are taking on the US when it was caught red-handed smuggling drugs and weapons into its borders: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704409004576146690013965286.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Ali Turk | 13 years ago | Reply http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff02082011.html

karachiite | 13 years ago | Reply @Akki: so are you suggesting Pak and India should cut down their defence budgets and leave diplomats to wage wars? because if Davis is let off this will be the new precedence

s.g. Jilanee | 13 years ago | Reply Raymond Davis or Gerald Richardson? What is his real name? His assignment we shall never know. However, the bloke is such a high value asset that the POTUS (President of the United States) personally intervenes to demand his unconditional release.

Ashraf | 13 years ago | Reply Too much attention has been given to Davis. We need more background information about the two guys who were killed. Who were Faizan and Faheem? Were they employed? What was their source of income? What did they do for a living? What were they doing at the scene where they were killed? Now about Davis. Is Davis a psychopath who decides to shoot two Pakistanis in a crowded Lahore market without cause? Doubtful since he was assigned to the US consulate and must have undergone a complete background psychological check. Should Davis have thrown up his hands and given money to the alleged robbers or maybe been kidnapped to suffer a possible fate like the poor Polish engineer or Daniel Pearl both of whom had their heads cut off in the name of Islamic jihad? Sure let the court decide Davis’ fate but the Court should keep in mind the fact that about a million Pakistanis live comfortably in the US (including many illegals), the bulk of our exports goes to the US, we get more than a billion in aid from them every year and also something that many Pakistanis forget either because they don’t want to face reality or are ignorant of history. In 1971 when the Indian army was about to dismember what remained of West Pakistan after liberating Bangladesh, it was Nixon’s threat to Indira Gandhi not to attack us on the western front that saved us from seeing Indian flags flying in Lahore. My problem is that most of the media is presenting one side of the case which is inflaming rather than educating public opinion. Most of our anchors pander to public opinion to get better viewer ratings. Things are never black and white as assumed by most Pakistanis including tv anchors, rather the world is shaded gray. I say pay compensation to the family of those Pakistanis killed and let Kerry take Davis back. This relationship between Pakistan and the US is too important to suffer a rupture now. We can’t afford it and those who say otherwise have no clue as to what the implications of a breakdown in relations between our countries means. Or rather they are hoping for a breakdown so anarchy and mayhem can prevail.

Hammad Ali | 13 years ago | Reply What are the members of US Special Forces doing in Pakistan in the name of Consulate Technical Staff ?????

Hammad Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan should ask US to waive diplomatic immunity. They way Americans did in Georgian Ambassador case.

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply Mr President before asking for Raymond Davis's release just take the opportunity to study two quotation from Dag Hammarskjold, you probably were a little toddler when he died in 1960. '' Your position never gives you the right to command. It only imposes on you the duty of so living your life that others can receive your orders without being humiliated.'' '' Your errors of the past make your relationsto others difficult when the present shows you might repeat them.'' How your Secretary of State and You interpret this will show the strength or weakness in your characters. Do you lack the moral courage to tell your nation that it was a grave mistake and let the Justice system in Pakistan decide the case on merits. It is unfortunate that we have to face each other with such disgust.

Mustafa | 13 years ago | Reply If the Pakistani people were ever under any misconception about their 'sincere friend', this should show their true colours. Don't feel bad though, even their long-time ally (UK) has started waking up to the fact that they respect no law and are hypocrites when it comes to applying international law.

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply @Arshad Zaman: Good work Arshad. You have a point here and I am sure that our Judiciary (so-called independent) will ponder this important point before making a final decision.

Mustafa | 13 years ago | Reply Hilarious, so the US is asking another country to respect international law? i think they were the ones to first set the precedent to not respect any international law when they attacked Iraq/Afghanistan. Hypocrite dogs!

Ben | 13 years ago | Reply The biggest blunder being committed by the US is its refusal to understand the sensitivities of Pakistanis. The matter of Raymond Davis is no more in the courts or in the files of Pakistan’s government; it has become a public property and threats, if indeed the good senator is here to deliver, will complicate the matter further and reduce the space to take any rational decision. It will push Pakistani government to the wall that will be forced to take the line of its former foreign minister. Threats, if John Kerry is really carrying, will only complicate the matter.

Zulfikar | 13 years ago | Reply Mr Barak Hussain Obama, the only stance of Pakistanis is that if the US wants his safe release of killer citizen is that it must release Dr Afia Siddiqui otherwise do not expect the doubble murderer American can be freed by amny means. This ios Pakistan and do not think that Zaradri or his puppet prime minister yousuf raza Gilani will help you in releasing the American guy. They can help in showing door to a minister like they did in relieving Mr SM Qureshi due to his stance that the US killer can not be given immunity. All the Pakistanis are united and incase of release of killer davis, people from khyber to Chitral, will take the law into their own hands. We are not impressed of these Americans. what is the fault of Dr afia as she has languishing in US prison for baseless crimes which the US, could not even be proved. The Davis nmust be hanges as this the voice of all and sundry in Pakistan, if the government is helpless before their masterrs in Us, it must leave the case to Pakistani judiciary, which, we are dead sure will do justice to the blood of two innocent Pakistani citizens who were killed by the US citizen.

Iftikhar-ur-Rehman | 13 years ago | Reply Why hasn't the the killer of the third person so handed over to Pakistan?

Mehreen Ijaz | 13 years ago | Reply American has been very unfair since the start of this so called war on terror. A lot of evidence is available stating that 9/11 was planned from inside America and the zionists are involved to create a reason to hit the Muslim world. Ever since the war Americans are bombing civilians including women and children which has devastated three countries and they are still not able to catch Osama. Guess Osama and Obama are together in Washington, fooling and killing millions. This aggression and extremism of America will not gain them anything but hatred throughout the Muslim and Non-Muslim world. Sadly our government following their policies, while many other countries have objected American intentions and they know its a war of power and it has hidden agendas. We stand with our nation and we will take a stance on this Davis case, he should be prosecuted in Pakistan as per our laws.

Usama Zafar | 13 years ago | Reply @Mohammed Moinuddin: I agree but lets also agree to the fact that civilian governments are far too weaker than the militiary ones!!

ABD | 13 years ago | Reply Davis should not be released at all. As if drone strikes were not enough, the idea of American spies running around in the streets of Lahore with weapons is simply enraging. By stiking in Lahore, Davis has probably targeted the 'heart' of Pakistan (just as Faisal Shahzad targeted Times Sq, New York in the heart of USA)....he should be given fair trial

Ahmer Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Our corrupt and beggars leaders should never trust US officials' tricky and hypocritical statement in which they said that Raymond will be prosecuted in US courts.Because US officials are only pretending to release Raymond on priority basis.US officials are just fooling and deceiving Pakistani leaders.They are not sincere and honest to resolve Raymond's issue.This is very amazing and unbelievable fact that only US diplomats have immunity according to the Vienna Convention.Why not for the other countries' diplomats?Our beggars and corrupt leaders must talk to US officials on bilateral level from eyeball to eyeball and clearly tell them that Raymond shall be prosecuted in Pakistan according to the Pakistani laws if they have courage and bravery and if not then sell whole Pakistan and its nation to USA because if no sovereignty,no power to make decision freely then no country.No any pressure our leaders should accept from USA in Raymond's case and must prove that no one is above the law without showing any flexibility and bowing their knees.

bunny | 13 years ago | Reply Mr Obama, It means every diplomat has authority to load an unlisenced gun and go out to kill people....as metioned he is old soldier...what he was doing ni that market with weapons asn such sophisticated equipments.....could you please help us in recovering that car...which killed the third people.....if you dont know let the police get in....Shame on our sold leader and so is on u.,...

ali | 13 years ago | Reply @nina Well every sane individual would want to leave for US alongwith Davis.

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply Beggars can not be the choosers and Beggars' incomes are pure ( infinite percent) profits. Pakistan's political junta is the most profitable group in the world.

Abdulla | 13 years ago | Reply So here comes the real game, so who shows their guts the satuation is like EGG & CHICKEN so will pakistan resist or bow down. the equatation as follows Pakistan Resist = Pakistan will be bombarded with economic sanction or Bombed or both. US fails = A huge slap on their face and thousands sleep or starved. US wins = Mulla, Militant with Military struggle to cope up with the satuation. Allha baksh de pure land ko.

A R Khan Yusufzai | 13 years ago | Reply Please hand over the whole country....after all we have become a Colony for all !

Abdul-Mughis Rana | 13 years ago | Reply KILLER R.Davis BE DEALT WITH PAKISTAN'S LAW REGARDLESS! How shameless!! A country claiming to be leading the world and printing on their currency "In God We Trust" asking Pakistan to respect Vienna crap and set a killer of two humans free, no way!! If we wish to close the terrorism thing and people taking law into their hands we must follow the path strictly!!

ashok sai | 13 years ago | Reply BOSS verdict is final, accept Pakistan.

Asif | 13 years ago | Reply Pretty heavy pressure for a low-ranking consular contractor--especially one who has admitted he shot two locals to death while apparently not working in any official capacity.

omar yusaf | 13 years ago | Reply There is a simple solution to all this. Allow an independent comission (i.e. the judiciary) to determine the matter, because there are too many unanswered questions as to why an armed ex-special forces operative, turned gun-for-hire, was driving around in a rental car with false number plates to an area of Lahore that is not on the map as far as foreigners are concerned. An explanation from Mr Davis needs to be elicited. This explanation should not be obtained under torture because that is illegal, and morally repugnant, and no court of law would accept a confession as being genuine if obtained under torture. Rather, he should be waterboarded repeatedly, until he provides answers. Waterboarding has been accepted by all democracies, including the greatest of them all, the USA, as a legitimate means of extracting a confession. In other words, whatever confessions are made using this technique, are admissable as proof positive that the suspect is guilty. Now, if Mr. Davis is not guilty, he will not admit anything, because he is innocent, and the matter will be concluded in his favour. As for diplomatic immunity. I dont believe any reasonable claim can be made to extend such immunity to an individual such as Mr. Davis, who is also under suspicion of planning a terrorist act. This war on terrorism was begun by the USA, and we are allies of the USA in this war. So it is reasonable to assume that the USA really should have no objections to a bit of waterboarding to determine the guilt or innocence of this solitary individual. After all, we are in this together, aren't we?

moise | 13 years ago | Reply Good to know Obama's true colors. Justice system of Pakistan can be trampled by US government.

Dr. A Raja | 13 years ago | Reply I think it is TIME we say Bye Bye to our OLD "friend" USA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and rather concentrate AT HOME and around HOME !!!!!

Akki(India) | 13 years ago | Reply Sorry Pakistan, They pay you, you follow then. Those are the rules. and yes a diplomat enjoying immunity can do whatever he wants , including murder and the only action Pakistan can take is to ask hm to be recalled. That's it.

Mulla Toofhan | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan being heavily dependent on American and foreign aid has no choice but to let Davis go. So many people and Army Jawans have lost their lives to terrorism, Two more would not make any difference to the present Govt. outlook, The Politician ostensibly opposing Davis release is incapable of standing against the All powerful US. We can yell and cry as loud as we can but the end result will be in America favour. Sometimes we have to swallow bitter medicine of reality.

Mohammed Moinuddin | 13 years ago | Reply All the Military and Civilian Goverments in Pakistan are very weak to resist any pressure from USA(beggers are not choosers).There is no way that they can put Davis on trail.On the other hand they have to put Davis on Plane with Jhon Kerry who will be taking him back home. This will not go down well among Pakistanis and this will complicate the matter more between USA and Pakistan and there will be more Anti American feelings in the country.Americans do not care about any feelings as they have their own agenda to carry out in Muslim and Arab world with the help of their stooges.

chicken | 13 years ago | Reply The chicken is coming home to roost.

Jamshed | 13 years ago | Reply There has been so much talk about releasing, why not do the exchange with Dr. Aafia, that will be win-win for both parties. Its not that US hasn't done anything like that previously, they've exchanged spies with Russia. Such kind of deal will definitely go well with people of Pakistan and will not put US interests at stake in the region.

Walid Janjua | 13 years ago | Reply As it appears different conventions apply to the US and different to Pakistan. In the US a flight attendant can insult serving Pakistani officers, they can kill 30 people a day in drone strikes but its wrong for us to seek justice for the murderer of 3 Pakistani's.

Aamir+Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistani courts do "justice" ? Lol they can't provide justice to their own citizens what justice will they provide to a foreigner that everyone wants hanged ?

Mike Sullivan | 13 years ago | Reply Barack, Barack, Barack...this might just be the mistake that cascades into your failure. I must say I am greatly disappointed.

DRBS | 13 years ago | Reply Mr.President , we are not dumb or fool . our country was divided in 1971 , when US 7 fleet was standing by... US or any Super power always bullys , it is like "Head I win , Tail you loose " US or any other country can not go on shooting around our citizen, if I am not mistaken , Mr. Davis is trained etc.. , why he cound not shoot the presumed robbers in the legs , it was taget clicking by US Citizen. Let us be honest and Believe in God Al Mighty and the Judgement Day. God Bless us, all.

Khan | 13 years ago | Reply The issue is getting to hot to handle now.. He does not have diplomatic immunity.. the US requested his name to be inlcuded in the list after the incident.. It is a fact that he is a undercover CIA agent.. even if his victims were ISI agents there is nothing wrong with keeping an eye on davis.. the US does far worse with Pakistanis who go to the US.. the guns were not loaded so they did not intent to davis.. the govt needs to get to the bottom of this issue.. the people of pakistan demand justice.

Asif | 13 years ago | Reply http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff02082011.html Under Pakistani law, only actual consular functionaries, not service workers at embassy and consulate, have diplomatic status. Furthermore, no immunity would apply in the case of “serious” crimes--and certainly murder is as serious as it gets. The US media have been uncritically quoting the State Department as saying that Pakistan is “violating” the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 by holding Davis in jail on murder charges. Those reporters should check the actual document. Section II, Article 41 of the treaty, in its first paragraph regarding the “Personal inviolability of consular officers,” states: “Consular officers shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a grave crime and pursuant to a decision by the competent judicial authority.” In other words, the prosecutorial, police and judicial authorities in Lahore and the state of Punjab are doing exactly what they are supposed to do in holding Davis on murder charges, pending a judicial determination concerning whether or not he can properly claim diplomatic immunity. The US claim that Pakistan is violating the convention is simply nonsense.

Blithe | 13 years ago | Reply Qureshi did not reccognisse him as a diplomat and that was beacuse of the porfessional briefings he got from the Foreign Ministry. So how can we be harping on about diplmatic immunity when Pakistan never recognised him as a diplmat? This is all bogus way to pressurise Pakistan. Every Tom, Dick and Harry cannot "become a diplomat" after commiting a crime.

Usama Zafar | 13 years ago | Reply @Fazal: Except they will fully implement their policy on war on terror and we will fully cooperate with them and free Raymond as well!!

Blithe | 13 years ago | Reply "to deliver to tough messages " is fine. Getting a private mercinary to create havoc in Lahore is something totally different.

Arshad Zaman | 13 years ago | Reply Here's the relevant excerpt from Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. 1963 Section II Facilities, Privileges and Immunities Relating to Career Consular Officers and Other Members of a Consular Post Article 41. Personal inviolability of consular officers Consular officers shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a grave crime and pursuant to a decision by the competent judicial authority.” Now most signatories to the Vienna Convention would agree that murder is a grave crime. Hence, even if he was a “career consular officer” or on a “consular post” (which he most certainly is not), “Raymond Davis” is liable to arrest, detention, and trial by a court of law in Pakistan.

rehan | 13 years ago | Reply So if there is a "Broader Principle at stake",let them digest one of their citizens receiving justice for his nation's "Broader Principle"!

Rajeel | 13 years ago | Reply I fail to understand why i used to like this guy!

nina | 13 years ago | Reply The US needs to get Davis released because the true purpose of his presence in Pakistan will be revealed, as it is already coming started to come out. Why don't we ask all other US "spies" working in economic development, education development, NGOs etc.... to also leave along with Davis.

gurriya | 13 years ago | Reply wow. that is SO newsy

Mohammad Ali Siddiqui | 13 years ago | Reply Vienna Convention does not permit or give to any American National whether ordinary or diplomat a license to kill innocent Pakistanis on Pakistan’s soil. Would US Government permit on its soil to any foreigner or a diplomat of any country to kill American National’s on its soil? Mr. Obama, think twice, before you speak. We the Pakistanis are not garbage; we too are human beings like any other American National whether living in United States of America or any other part of the world. By receiving financial aid from US, World Bank or IMF, Pakistan has not given up its sovereignty.

FazalAliButt | 13 years ago | Reply I feel Obama's this urge will cost American interests in Afghanistan and Pakistan far more than he counts. Instead of making Pakistani Government vulnerable, America has better option of waving aside his diplomatic immunity and letting Pakistani Courts do justice while not creating more difficulties for the policy Pakistani Government is perusing on war on terror. "There is," NO "broader principle at stake" than war on terror and Obama plus American people know that very well. .

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