I think Pakistan must release Raymond Davis. Though, I know that nobody in such a charged environment would like to even listen to my recommendation. I will request my countrymen to kindly be realistic and think the realities of the world politics. It is a fact that we all are very sorry about the sad incident of two youngsters death at the hands of Raymond, and feel the pain through which their relatives are passing. However, we must also not forget that both of them were carrying weapons and there are chances that Raymond really felt threatened and took the law in his own hand, fearing his own murder, him being a white man amid current law and order situation in Pakistan.
Lets be bold to face the realities of real world and realpolitik. Pakistan cant exist in isolation. There will be negative implications if Pakistan does not release Raymond in the face saving reasoning of diplomatic immunity, especially in the backdrop of submission by Mr Kerrys that he would be prosecuted as per the US law. Its not the time to react impatiently and emotionally, instead try to be realistic and leave behind the utopian arguments of idealism. First of all, its the same situation perhaps which the Afghanistans Taliban Government faced back in 2001 when they declined to throw out Osama Bin Laden out of Afghanistan whom the US believed to be the mastermind of 9/11 incident. I agree that Pakistan might not land in the same kind of situation on not meeting the US demand, still why apply breaks to our development pace.
If the US side doesnt get its demand fulfilled, its all likely that it may terminate its economic support to Pakistan. The indicator of the same is already there in the form of Mr Kerrys presence in Pakistan to settle the issue who is believed to be the architect of Kerry-Lugar Bill aid of 7.5 billion US dollars. Any negative action by the US against in this regard will collapse the already fragile economy of our beloved country. The rehabilitation of the flood and war on terror affectees will come to a grinding halt, which shall further create uncontrollable public retaliation.
The world is too materialistic today. Any weakness of the government can also strengthen the militant organisations.
AHMED SAEED MINHAS
Islamabad
