“In giving military assistance to Pakistan, we have systems of accountability to be sure that it is being employed in accordance with the agreements that we have with Pakistan,” state department spokesman PJ Crowley said at his daily news briefing on Tuesday evening.
“Where we have questions about the nature of Pakistani employment of US assistance, we raise those questions directly with the Pakistani government. We have in the past and we will continue to do that,” he said.
So, building up the capability of Pakistan to deal with the threat within its own borders “should not be seen as a threat to India,” Crowley said.
He argued that a stable Pakistan is not a threat to India and a stable India does not need to be a threat to Pakistan.
His remarks came five days after India expressed concern over the misuse of US military aid by Pakistan and asked America to set up a monitoring mechanism as a remedial measure.
During the visit of US joint chiefs of staff committee chairman Admiral Mike Mullen to New Delhi on July 23, defence minister AK Antony told him about India’s worries that Pakistan was diverting the American military assistance to building capacities against India.
Antony said that the arms aid to Pakistan, worth billions of dollars annually, was “disproportionate to the war on terror” for which it was intended and the US should ensure it was used only for the purpose meant for.
Crowley also strongly recommended Indo-Pak peace talks, while underlining that Islamabad should address New Delhi’s concern with regard to 26/11.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2010.
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