By IANS,
New Delhi : India Wednesday said it has urged the US to devise proper benchmarks to prevent the diversion of funds provided to Pakistan for military build-up targeting its interests.
“The government has consistently drawn the attention of the US and other countries to the need for proper benchmarks and accountability to prevent the diversion of assistance provided to Pakistan for use in its military build-up against India,” Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur told the Lok Sabha.
“Government has also stressed the need for constant vigilance as also close monitoring of such assistance being provided,” Kaur added.
The US has conveyed that it will seek to ensure that its security assistance to Pakistan is used to counter terrorism and is not utilised against India, said Kaur.
Last month, the White House announced that it would withhold some $800 million in assistance to Pakistan’s armed forces, indicating a fraying of ties between Washington and Islamabad following the killing of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
However, India thinks the cut will not substantially affect funds at the disposal of the US and will not constrain Pakistan’s capacity to indulge in anti-India activities.
The US will provide $1.2 billion to Pakistan under the Pakistan Counter-insurgency Capability Fund, while the reimbursements under the Coalition Support Fund are likely to continue at the level of approximately $800 million to $1 billion per annum, Kaur informed the Lok Sabha.