Defence minister AK Antony has told the United States to
ensure that arms being given to Pakistan to fight the Taliban and al Qaeda are not used against India.
This is the first time that the normally reticent defence minister has spoken out against the arming of Pakistan. Much of this also has to do with India’s irritation with US special envoy Richard Holbrooke’s comments that last week’s attack on a Kabul guesthouse was not directed against Indians.
“Given our bitter past experience of how Islamabad used such aid against India, Washington should ensure that the latest tranche of military aid is used only for the purpose of countering al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists and not against India,” Antony said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement followed reports that the US has cleared the supply of sophisticated laser-guided bomb kits, 12 surveillance drones and 18 F-16 fighters to boost Pakistan military’s capability to strike at targets in remote tribal areas, where the Taliban and al-Qaeda are located.
New Delhi knows that India’s complaints will make no difference to the US decision to arm the Pakistani army in its fight against terror.
Yet it wants to go on record that this has happened regularly, and there is no guarantee that it will not happen this time around.
“The idea is to draw attention to the fact that these arms must not to be used against India. We are not foolish enough to expect the Americans to stop arms supply to Pakistan, but want to make sure their use is monitored,’’ a senior official said.
India realises that the US needs the Pakistani army’s assistance at the moment and will do everything to ensure that it is cajoled and bribed to take on al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
