WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama's national security advisor has threatened to boot Pakistan's ambassador Hussain Haqqani from the country if a US official arrested in Lahore was not released by Friday, ABC News said.
Citing two Pakistani officials, ABC News said late Thursday that National Security Advisor Tom Donilon made the threat after summoning Haqqani to the White House on Monday.
He also warned US consulates in Pakistan may be closed and an upcoming visit to Washington by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari could be cancelled if US official Raymond Davis was not freed.
While the White House has declined to comment, a senior US official confirmed the details of the report to ABC News.
Davis was arrested on January 27 after allegedly shooting two men in broad daylight in a busy street - an incident that has sparked angry protests in Pakistan.
Meanwhile Friday a Pakistani court extended Davis' remand by another 14 days as police rejected the self-defence claim that the American has made.
Haqqani took to his Twitter feed to deny the threats were ever made, however, posting the message: “No US official, incl the NSA, has conveyed any personal threats 2 me or spoken of extreme measures,” referring to the National Security Agency.
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