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Islamabad, New Delhi:
It's a candid confession from Pervez Musharraf. He says that Pakistan has been diverting American military aid to use it against India. These are funds that were supposed to be used to fight terrorism. But according to Musharraf, they were used to build up conventional strength against India.
According to Musharraf, the money was used to arm troops and stayed with them wherever they went.
"As far as Pakistan is concerned, if our security is threatened, whether it is through Taliban we will use it against them, and if it is from India, we will use it against India. We will certainly use all our equipment against that threat," said Musharraf.
While the comments come as no surprise, Delhi stepped up India's demand that the US closely monitor all the help it is giving Pakistan.
"It doesn't come as a surprise. We have been for some years now arguing that the only problem we have with the US military aid to Pakistan is its misuse against us," said Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.
"We do not feel that such assistance should be turned around and used against us. We pose no threat to Pakistan and we find that this kind of diversion is neither in the interest of the sub-continent nor in those who are giving assistance," he added.
Pakistan has earlier dismissed similar charges of American funds being misappropriated, and as part of its new AfPak policy, the US has recently given Pakistan $10 billion to fight Al-Qaida.
Many say these latest comments are Musharraf's payback, his way of getting back at President Asif Ali Zardari. While former dictator may be miles away from Pakistan, he's proven yet again that he can cause trouble for a government already under global pressure to deliver in the war on terror.
According to Musharraf, the money was used to arm troops and stayed with them wherever they went.
"As far as Pakistan is concerned, if our security is threatened, whether it is through Taliban we will use it against them, and if it is from India, we will use it against India. We will certainly use all our equipment against that threat," said Musharraf.
While the comments come as no surprise, Delhi stepped up India's demand that the US closely monitor all the help it is giving Pakistan.
"It doesn't come as a surprise. We have been for some years now arguing that the only problem we have with the US military aid to Pakistan is its misuse against us," said Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.
"We do not feel that such assistance should be turned around and used against us. We pose no threat to Pakistan and we find that this kind of diversion is neither in the interest of the sub-continent nor in those who are giving assistance," he added.
Pakistan has earlier dismissed similar charges of American funds being misappropriated, and as part of its new AfPak policy, the US has recently given Pakistan $10 billion to fight Al-Qaida.
Many say these latest comments are Musharraf's payback, his way of getting back at President Asif Ali Zardari. While former dictator may be miles away from Pakistan, he's proven yet again that he can cause trouble for a government already under global pressure to deliver in the war on terror.
