Worried Pak eyeing other aid avenues to minimize consequences of US standoff
February 14th, 2011 - 5:05 pm ICT by ANI
Islamabad, Feb 14(ANI): Taking note of the possible consequences of the standoff between Pakistan and the United States over double murder-accused US official Raymond Davis, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have reportedly decided to look for alternatives, if the US suspends civilian assistance under Kerry-Lugar act programme.
According to the Nation, Zardari and Gilani are worried that the economic implications of the face-off would make things more complicated for the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led ruling coalition in making its next budget.
Sources said that one of the potential alternatives considered by the two leaders was to cultivate and capitalize on Pakistan’s relations with the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
They said that the government has decided to start work on the option with Gilani’s visit to Kuwait, which starts today. It would be followed by the visit of Zardari.
Similarly, the Presidency and Foreign Office are finalizing Zardari’s visit to Japan with special focus on securing more economic assistance.
Despite the US insisting that Pakistan should free Davis as he is entitled to “full immunity from criminal prosecution by Pakistan” under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, he was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days on February 11, with the next hearing due on February 25. (ANI)
- 'Pressurised' Pak Foreign Office relents, declares murder accused American "a diplomat" - Feb 16, 2011
- Zardari, Gilani meet to discuss Pak-US relations, Davis case - Feb 13, 2011
- US disappointed over Pak Govt's failure to certify Davis' diplomatic immunity status - Feb 18, 2011
- US, Pak working on 'out of the box' solution to Davis detention standoff - Feb 20, 2011
- Pak tells Kerry that 'only court will decide' murder-accused US official's fate - Feb 18, 2011
- PPP should be lauded for refusing to hand over Davis to US despite pressure: Awan - Feb 19, 2011
- US mounts pressure on Pakistan to release 'illegally detained' murder-accused diplomat - Feb 08, 2011
- Gilani rules out any "back-door solution" between Pak, US on Davis' immunity row - Mar 08, 2011
- Munter urges Bashir to certify diplomatic status of Davis to end US-Pak standoff - Feb 15, 2011
- Davis case should not mar Pakistan-US ties: Kerry - Feb 16, 2011
- US calls off Afghan-Pak trilateral meeting in retaliation to Davis detention issue - Feb 13, 2011
- Gilani hints at pardon by victims' family to murder-accused US official as solution - Feb 17, 2011
- Murder-accused US official's file not tampered with: Malik - Feb 13, 2011
- Kerry on 'fire-fighting' trip to Pak to "reaffirm partnership" amid Davis standoff - Feb 15, 2011
- Pak, US must avoid Davis-like incidents to remain allies in war on terror: Zardari - Mar 06, 2011
Tags: asif ali zardari, criminal prosecution, double murder, economic assistance, economic implications, face off, feb 14, foreign office, gilani, gulf cooperation council, immunity, judicial custody, member states, ppp, presidency, raymond davis, raza, standoff, vienna convention on diplomatic relations, yousuf