Click to play videoNew Delhi: Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf has finally confirmed what India has been saying for years about Pakistan's mismanagement of funds meant to fight terror.
Musharraf reiterated that while he was in power, he did approve channelising of funds meant for fight against terror to overthrow threats perceived from Indian side.
India has hit back, saying US must monitor all aid to Pakistan.
Ex-president of Pakistan has confessed to brazenly diverting US military aid from the purposes for which it was intended.
When the person in conversation with Musharraf asked him if it was alright to use US military aid against India, Musharraf said, "Yes, whenever there is threat to Pakistan, we will use it. If the threat is form Taliban, we will use it there and if it is against India it will still be used. The way US military aid has been used is completely justified."
Asked whether it means risking hurting the US, Musharraf said, "Our main aim is to ensure security. We don't care if this upsets US."
India has repeatedly been saying this over the years, that the aid flowing in from US Pakistani interests should be monitored.
Minister of state for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor said, "We support foreign countries supporting Pakistan but we feel that such assistance should not be turned around to use against us. There is no threat to Pakistan from us. This kind of diversion is not in the interest of the subcontinent. Musharraf's statement has only confirmed what we have said all along. US should monitor its aid to Pakistan."
The US sold nearly five billion dollars worth of military equipment to Pakistan from 2002 to 2008. Another 2 billion dollars in loans was advanced in the same period. The money paid for included:
- 8 Orion maritime patrol aircraft (which Islamabad has now modified for land attack uses),
- 60 upgrade kits for F-16 aircraft,
- 115 M109 self propelled Howitzers,
- 6 C-130 transport aircraft and
- 20 Cobra attack helicopterstext
Musharraf's straight talk has left Islamabad red in the face and stunned.
Sections of the US Congress though, can be expected to use this admission to push for stringent monitoring of military aid.
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