U.S. Breaks High-Level Contacts With Pakistan

The United States has put all bilateral contacts with Pakistan on hold until Islamabad releases Raymond Davis – (File Photo)

US Breaks Off High-Level Contact With Pakistan Over Shooting Case -- The Telegraph

The US has broken off high-level contacts with Pakistan as it increases pressure on Islamabad to free an American official who shot dead two Pakistanis, according to sources from both countries.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already cancelled one meeting and the diplomatic row threatens talks due later this month on the war in Afghanistan.

The freeze comes as a damning US watchdog report reveals that aid money lavished on Pakistan – almost $4bn since 2009 – as part of a strategy to foster closer ties has failed to show any progress.

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Update #1: U.S. presses for release of diplomat accused in Pakistan shooting -- CNN
Update #2: US ups pressure on Pakistan over detained American -- AP
Update #3: Pakistan warns US over demands to release diplomat -- Financial Times

My Comment: Pakistan's internal politics will be the reason why this U.S. diplomat will not be released in the time frame that the U.S. is demanding. This case is another example on how downhill U.S.-Pakistani relations have become .... and I expect it to get worse, especially as the situation in Afghanistan becomes more unstable before the fighting season starts in April-May.