In an apparent step to show its displeasure, the United States on Saturday postponed a meeting with Pakistani and Afghan officials to discuss the war in Afghanistan. Pakistan prizes such gatherings as a way to assert influence in Afghanistan.
The meeting was to have taken place next week. The US did not directly cite Davis' continued detention as the reason, but US diplomats have said the talks could become a casualty of the dispute. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said he is confident the three-way talks will continue.
``The trilateral talks will be rescheduled in due course of time,' Basit said. ``It is important the trilateral process continues. We hope whenever held, (talks) will yield maximum results for peace and stability.'
He declined comment on what the escalating diplomatic spat means for the Davis case or for relations with the United States.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the US hopes to reschedule the meeting soon.
On Sunday, the Pakistani Taliban threatened to attack any government official involved in Davis' eventual release.
``Whether he is a judge, police, lawyer, army, police maker or a politician, we will target him. We will kill him,' spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan told the AP by phone.