Official: Pakistani-Afghan-U.S. Talks To Go Forward Despite Delay

Pakistani activists have demanded the death penalty for an American accused of killing two Pakistanis.

A spokesman for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry says that "important" talks between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United States will go forward despite a delay and the arrest a U.S. Embassy employee in Pakistan, a case that has strained U.S.-Pakistani relations.

Abdul Basit said the annual talks scheduled for February 23-24 would instead be held at a later date.

He declined to comment on the case of the American, Raymond Davis, who was arrested on charges of killing two Pakistani men.

Davis said he was acting in self-defense, a plea rejected by Pakistani authorities on February 11 as hundreds of Pakistanis demonstrated for Davis to be given the death penalty.

U.S. officials have increased pressure on Pakistan to free Davis.

Tensions between the two countries have been on the rise in recent months.

compiled from agency reports