Thaindian News

Islamabad, Mar 8(ANI): Pakistan has urged the United States that their relationship should not be held hostage to isolated diplomatic incidents like the Raymond Davis case.

The continued detention of Davis, the CIA contractor who was arrested for shooting dead two Pakistani men on January 27 in Lahore, has resulted in an impasse between the two allies in the ongoing war on terror.

President Asif Ali Zardari told the visiting US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Mark Grossman, that the two countries should not be “swayed by misperceptions and some isolated incidents that may be used by some to increase tensions and mistrust”.

In an official statement, Zardari also urged Pakistan and US “to remain focused on the path of pursuing long-term, multifaceted and durable strategic ties,” The Nation reported.

Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir had said last week that it was too early to conclude that the Davis incident had inflicted long-term damage on US-Pak ties.

But Washington is pushing hard for Davis’ release, arguing that he has diplomatic immunity and acted in self-defence. Following failed attempts to secure his release, the US postponed a round of high-level talks with Afghanistan and Pakistan last month, and US lawmakers have threatened to cut aid payments to Pakistan unless Davis is freed.

“Weakening of relations was not an option for the two countries. We have to find ways and means to find acceptable solutions to all problems,” Zardari said in the statement.

Defending Pakistan against accusations by some US officials that it could do more to tackle terrorism, Zardari said: “No one should question our commitment or intentions”.

He described Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism as “matchless”, adding that it is “a long-drawn battle where military means alone cannot achieve complete victory.”

The president also said that Pakistan had an “an abiding interest” in a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan. (ANI)