The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
February 14, 2011

U.S. Delays Talks with Pakistan Amid Diplomatic Dispute 
--------------------------------------------------------



U.S. officials have called off scheduled talks with Pakistani and Afghan
officials amid growing diplomatic tensions between the United States and
Pakistan. The United States did not provide specific reasons for its
postponement, though the imprisonment of a U.S. embassy official in
Pakistan has strained U.S.-Pakistani ties. Raymond Allen Davis has
admitted to killing two people he said threatened him while he was
driving in Lahore last month. A third Pakistani was reportedly run over
and killed by a U.S. consulate vehicle that arrived at the scene. The
U.S. embassy claims Davis—a former Special Forces
soldier—acted in self-defense and, as a diplomat, is entitled to
immunity. Davis's diplomatic status has been called into question.
Pakistani media reports have suggested he is a CIA operative or private
security contractor.



.