By IANS,
New Delhi: Citing the $500 million aid given to Pakistan by the US, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday rued that the US treats India and Pakistan the same despite the latter’s “proven links” to terror outfits.
“(US Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton is saying that (the Al Qaeda chief) Osama Bin Laden and (Taliban’s head) Mullah Omar are in Pakistan, and still giving non-military aid to Pakistan. US is treating India and Pakistan in the same manner despite Pakistan’s proven links to terror organisations,” BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters here.
Rudy also hit out at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, noting that while signing the civil nuclear agreement October 2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that US will work with India. “Now they (the US) are engaged in helping Pakistan,” he said.
“The civil nuclear liability bill is another of UPA’s efforts to maintain closer relations with US and the BJP strongly oppose these moves by the government. BJP believes that the PM has mortgaged the foreign policy of India.”
During her two-day visit to Islamabad, Clinton Monday announced more than $500 million worth of development projects for Pakistan that focus on improving water storage, the energy sector, food exports and medical facilities.
The aid, which is the part of a $7.5-billion five-year development package passed by the US Congress last year, aims at improving the US image in Pakistan, a key ally in the fight against terrorism.