Pak admits to "navigating through difficulties" with US over diplomats' detention

Islamabad, Feb 9(ANI): While admitting that Pakistan's relations with the United States are going through difficulties as a fallout of the arrested diplomat issue, Islamabad has insisted that their bilateral ties are strong enough to navigate through the crisis.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson finally reacted officially after 11 days on the matter, without naming Davis or the storm created after he shot two persons to death in Lahore on January 27.

"Pakistan-US relations are anchored in mutual interest and mutual respect. Both our countries are committed to further strengthening the bilateral relationship to our mutual benefit. Our relations are mature enough to navigate through difficulties. We must not lose focus of the strategic imperatives of Pak-US relations," said the FO spokesman.

Meanwhile, the United States dismissed reports of a US-Pak 'deadlock' over double murder-accused Raymond Davis' detention.

"There is no deadlock. We are interacting at all levels, including at the highest level, to resolve this issue of the US citizen, bilaterally," The News quoted Courtney Beale, the spokesperson at the US Embassy, as saying.

According to television reports, the Americans have indicated to the Punjab government that they will fight for Davis' immunity even in the court.

But the US Embassy spokesperson said: "We are not saying this, it is the Pakistan government that is saying it."

While the Pakistan government confirmed to the newspaper that the upcoming visit of US Deputy Secretary for Treasury Neal Wolin was postponed because of the ongoing 'diplomatic tussle' between the two governments over the Davis episode, Beale maintained: "That visit was never announced, so there is no question of it being cancelled." (ANI)