India asks US not to give $860 mn aid to Pak

New Delhi, February 12

India on Friday asked the US not to give $860 million aid, including $265 million for military hardware, to Pakistan, saying all such aids go directly into anti-India activities.

“Our position on this has been made clear on a number of occasions. We believe that all such aids actually go directly into activities directed against India. It should not be given,” External Affairs Minister sSpokesperson Vikas Swarup said when asked about the proposed US aid of $860 million.

Earlier this week, the Obama administration proposed $860 million in aid for Pakistan, including $265 million for military hardware, which it said would help the country fight terrorists, secure nuclear weapons and improve ties with India.

While there was no mention of Pakistan in President Barack Obama’s budgetary proposals, Secretary of State John Kerry in his proposals said the Budget includes $859.8 million towards sustaining ties with Pakistan and making progress to “disrupt, dismantle and defeat violent extremist groups”.

“The requested funding will support the country’s counter- insurgency missions, and bolster stability, energy access, economic growth, and social reform,” Kerry said in a letter accompanying his proposals on February 9.

‘Pak’s state actors should stop supporting terrorism’

India on Friday seized on former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s admission that ISI trains LeT and Jaish militants and asked Pakistan’s “state actors” to stop supporting terrorism in the region.

“Musharraf’s admission on ISI involvement in terrorist activities in India speaks for itself and it reinforces once again the need for stopping support from state actors to terrorism in our region,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

Swarup also asked Pakistan to “expose fully the conspiracy” behind the Mumbai terrorist attack after Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley’s testimony revealing its army’s role in the strike.

“Headley’s testimony is in relation with the Mumbai terror attack and the testimony is self explanatory... it is up to Pakistan to investigate and expose fully the conspiracy in Pakistan behind the Mumbai terror attack and bring all concerned to justice.

“Headley’s deposition once again confirms this view, if any confirmation was needed after confession of Ajmal Kasab,” the spokesperson added.

Asked about the status of Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary-level talks, he said the National Security Advisers and the secretaries were in touch with each other respectively.

On reports that the Pakistan government has dismissed evidence given by India in Pathankot terror attacks, Swarup said the NSAs of the two countries were in contact regarding the investigations and the government will go by the “official line” and not by some media reports.

Asked about Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s remarks of demilitarisation of Siachen, the spokesperson said Siachen has always been part of the bilateral dialogue process and will be discussed at the right time.

When asked about the recent meeting of Kashmiri separatist leaders with Basit here, he said government’s position was very clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the issue can be only discussed between the two countries bilaterally. — PTI