Pakistan

‘Pakistan tried to trade Davis with Aafia’

American TV reports say Pakistan govt offered to trade Davis for Aafia, but the offer was dismissed by the US govt.

Express March 01, 2011

The Pakistan government offered to trade CIA contractor Raymond Davis, accused of killing two people for Pakistani neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui suspected by US intelligence to be an al Qaeda operative, America’s ABC television reported on Monday.

According to a senior American administration official and a Pakistani official involved in the negotiations to free Davis, the Pakistan government proposed trading Davis for Aafia, who is currently serving 86 years in federal prison for attempted murder.

The offer was immediately dismissed by the US government. “The Pakistanis have raised it,” the US official said. “We are not going to pursue it.”

The proposal is the latest in a series of efforts to break an impasse between Washington and Islamabad over Davis. Davis has been held by Pakistani authorities since late January for shooting and killing two men he says were following his car and tried to rob him.

Aafia was convicted of trying to shoot FBI agents and military officers in an Afghanistan police station in 2008. She had been arrested the day before after being found with a list of New York city landmarks and instructions on how to construct explosives.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2011.

COMMENTS (33)

pround paki | 13 years ago | Reply y davis in pakistan? y he was not in any other place? y russian agencies continuously expose his missions? from where taliban get american guns? who gave them lot of dollars? two pplz at 10 am try to rob him in crowdy street? if davis is Ambassador so y his ambacy wan go back when paki police arrested him.? why indians defend davis?

Veny | 13 years ago | Reply sorry for the error, Read "if your ignorant of some subject" instead of "if you are ignorant of something subject" Thanks

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Veny | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop In Raymond David case, Pakistan is punching USA, the sole superpower above its weight. Chanakya also believed in strategy, but for right purposes. But many in Pakistan believe in strategy for wrong purpose.

Veny | 13 years ago | Reply @SMI When I was growing up, I was taught if you are ignorant of something subject it is better to keep silence than talking. You guys claim Raymond Davis is a CIA agent? Now you are equating him to Pakistan High Commissioner in Delhi to do the same act as if he is a ISI agent? Remember India, as per Vienna conventions will deport the gentleman the same day to move on with other business if such a Raymond Davis act happens. The High Commissioner will have no chance to do it everyday as you wish. Regards

Zarmeena Ikram Babar | 13 years ago | Reply Lol at Govt's shenanigans here. Is this some kinda joke? The irony of the fact is that our Govt. has become a puppet to those religious bigots -passing fatwas every now and then. Our Govt. should have rather shown some sensibilty in this case -since this very decision seems to have been taken on the account of sheer religious extremists pressure.

Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop This is a matter between Pakistan and USA, there is no place for Indians.

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply @G.Khan, Again, I repeat, I am not at all surprised that you, a Pakistani citizen, are defending Kasab, a Terrorist responsible for dozens of deaths. So, no point in playing foolish games with you. Because of people like you, thousands die in Pakistan every year and hence, Pakistan is considered to be one among the top 10 failed nations in the world, next to Afghanistan. @SMI, Sure, go ahead. I'd not be surprised if a Pakistani High Commisioner, not just in India, but in other countries also, turns out to be a product from the Jihadi Factory. The probability of a Pakistani HC being a Terrorist is highest amond all countries. This will mark another feather in the cap of the illustrious Terrorist History of Pakistan.

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply @anyonymous, First of all Taliban Govt wasn't even recognized by the US. How can an Ambassador of Afghanistan be in USA to be arrested? @Naeem, I am not defending Davis. I am defending Vienna Convention, which is ratified by Pakistan, and hence, its Pakistani law. All I am saying is if Davis comes under the convention then he should not be even arrested. I am not in anyway defending his act, which is a shame in every sense. Given the hostility Pakistani Media and its citizens show towards Davis, I'd not be surprised if Davis's account of the affair turns out to be true. But, I will be in a way happy if Pakistan violates the Vienna Convention- It'll speed up the complete cutting off of aid by the US, which India has been long demanding and due to which Pakistan has been allowed to punch above its weight(although with disastrous circumstances).

Atif | 13 years ago | Reply yeah yeah analysts

Vin | 13 years ago | Reply Havent you guys ever watched Bond the James Bond? Davis is Bond who kills for his country not cause someone is of a certain religion....he is doing his duty that was entrusted to him by his country's intelligence just as an Army Man who becomes a POW... for embassy attache's diplomatic immunity is a norm... I am sure if USA would have applied for his diplomatic status Pakistan wouldnt have denied... If today his Diplomatic Status is not proved then he must be treated as any other SPY is treated...

inderjit sahota | 13 years ago | Reply this proves,in pak truth has no value,everything else has a price. It is a wondrous site to see some people trying to square the circle in order to justify the latest fantasy

Shuja | 13 years ago | Reply These issues are very complex and have no end in sight, similar to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan- in essence, this news story will only accomplish artificial fulfillment in the hearts and minds of the readers and listeners. Ones arrogance and so called pride for his/her country will keep them motivated to continue discussing and contributing on this matter and to themselves they sound politically and socially correct. But what we are forgetting is that our nation has a population of 170 million people out of whom 80% live below the poverty line, women and little girls are treated like garbage- earth quake and flood victims are forgotten with the past. I ask of you is Raymond Davis really that important? They want to extradite him? Okay grant them this request it will not make our great nation any less important- but in turn we can discuss issues that are directly affecting our people and our great nation of Pakistan.

hunter_hunted | 13 years ago | Reply @observer: so let me understand what you are saying is that, to finish someone's diplomatic immunity first someone has to finish the host country government or simply you can destroy the country and a government then the invading country can grab the diplomat or any other person. I believe the color of the blood of Americans is also red ' if I'm not wrong' then why the hell only Americans enjoy the diplomatic immunity in this world.

Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply Afia Siddiqi is a terrorist while Raymond Davis is a embassy worker with diplomatic immunity.

observer | 13 years ago | Reply @anonymous buddy, what about the diplomatic immunity if afghan ambassadors in different parts of the world were dragged and thrashed into gitmo after 9/11? where the hell did their immunity go. you better get your facts straight! The Taliban Government of Afghanistan was recognised by a grand total of three countries,UAE,KSA and Pakistan. Naturally they had ambassadors in just these three countries and not in 'different parts of the world'. Of these three the one in Pakistan was arrested after the Talibani government collapsed. So this gentleman was no longer an ambassador of any government. Further as he was arrested by Pakistani authorities and then handed over to others for a fee, any explanation in this regard must come from GHQ as the COAS was also the Chief Executive of Pakistan those days. Getting your facts right is a good advice to give and to follow.

anyonymous | 13 years ago | Reply @ Anoop buddy, what about the diplomatic immunity if afghan ambassadors in different parts of the world were dragged and thrashed into gitmo after 9/11? where the hell did their immunity go. you better get your facts straight!

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply We dont want the terrorist lady back

Asad | 13 years ago | Reply I suggest we switch Davis with Aafia Siddiquie and Faysal Shehzad... sounds fair enough then... On a more serious note, hats off to the Pakistani public and the media... Thanks to them Davis is still in Pakistan... Had it been to our spine-less Government, Davis would have been a free man today. Mr. Davis seems to be a small pawn in a much better game, but he's certainly a great bait for much more to catch.

SMI | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop: Ok, let me ask our High Commissioner in Delhi to go on a drive by shooting every day there just to remind you of the Vienna Conventions :)

Saidullah | 13 years ago | Reply Aafia is an al-Qaeda groupie whore who deserves whatever she's getting on account of the poor life choices she made. The lengthy imprisonment may not seem fair, but she is by no means an "innocent" as so many of my fellow Pakistanis like to claim she is. Of course, Davis is a murderer, and I hope he hangs. It is disgraceful that the Pakistani government would want to make such an exchange.

G.Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop: LOL.. Ok.. Ajmal Kasab had diplomatic immunity too. Go release him.. 2 or 200 killed all equal as he has immunity.. because I say so... Now go and act.

Naeem Siddiqui, Australia | 13 years ago | Reply @Anoop In which fools world you live!!?? Even US government has given up on this 'diplomatic immunity' nonsense and seeking an out of court and out of diplomatic immunity solution. And as I remember initially you were the one who was defending Davis and his act in the same forum !!! In fact in all other news forums I found Indians were defending Raymond Davis more then American themselves :) This is ridicules!!

sbp | 13 years ago | Reply Our Pakistani friends seem to forget that Afia is a US citizen.

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply Haha.. Trust the Pakistanis to support Terrorists. They haven't learnt anything. I am not defending Davis and his act. But, if he has Diplomatic Immunity then he shouldn't even be arrested in the first place, no matter if he has killed 200 people instead of 2.

sajjad | 13 years ago | Reply the question arise why did the US officials picked only Afia Sidiqui among 5 miliion Muslims living in USA....another question why did Raymond Davis killed three pakistanis among 180 million population .....another question arises why didnt he killed 9 people instead of 2 as he can kill 9 because he shot these two 9 times... anyone has answer?

Karim Khan | 13 years ago | Reply I wonder how Afia reached Afghanistan.

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply Incase it is agreed to swap the two prisoners. The one going from here will return escorted by the staff of the State department and senior official of CIA. The one being returned will most probably return in a body bag with doctor's certificate endorsed by NY Governor that Dr Afia took her own life?

khizer Jalal | 13 years ago | Reply Its definitely not a fair deal.

Abdul-Mughis Rana | 13 years ago | Reply R.D has a much bigger account, let the Court pull out all there is. As for Dr. Aafia and her family they have suffered a lot may ALLAH SWT help them.

Muhammed Ali Razvi | 13 years ago | Reply Swapping a murderer for a innocent woman, is stupid. Let her suffer her fate, but no comprimise, no concession should be made regards to this guy, he should be hanged like Zulfkar Ali Bhutto the ex president of Pakistan got hanged for murder, he should not be spared the fate, there should be no selectiveism.

RizwanTKhan | 13 years ago | Reply This is an extremely unequal trade off. Aafia was NEITHER a spy NOR she killed any American. If the trade off has to be done then it should be for all Pakistanis who are in Gautnama and all those who have been illegally abducted, kidnapped till date by US govt. Aafia alone is NOT enough.

thomas | 13 years ago | Reply WTF...!!!!! The "O" crew won't trade Afia who killed, hurt NO ONE.....For rayMBOZZO Davis the man who killed ONE Executed ONE and who's call for help led to the death of one morre and also the SUICIDE of Shumaila..... Basically, the man responsible for four deaths including TWO murders...??? Why would he act like such a fool...???

Aamir | 13 years ago | Reply "Aafia was convicted of trying to shoot FBI agents and military officers" but she never killed any human being, here Davis is responsible for the loss of four innocent lives but still US government is adamant to prove that he enjoys diplomatic immunity.......how pathetic.

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