India supports US efforts in Pakistan, but is concerned about the diversion of American aid and military equipment by Islamabad against it.
“We have actually applauded the US supporting Pakistan on two things. First is its own economic development, and the second is equipping it to overcome the homegrown horror of terrorism,” Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said.
“But our bitter experience over the last 25 years has been, ever since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, money gets poured in from Washington into Islamabad, and a colossally high percentage of it is actually spent, not on the purposes that Washington intends, but to buy tanks and planes and artillery aimed directly at India,” Mr. Tharoor told CNN in an interview.
Asserting that India wants peace and to develop deep relations with Pakistan, Mr. Tharoor said that every effort towards this has come from New Delhi, while every such gesture has been thwarted by Pakistan.
“India would say to you very honestly, every gesture for peace has been made by our side; every gesture that has thwarted peace has come from the other side. And that’s the regrettable thing,” the minister said.
“Pakistan needs peace as much as we do. When will they come to the realisation that it’s in their interest to end this unproductive approach?” he asked.
