US reassures India on military aid to Pakistan

[Lankan Ranger]

US reassures India on military aid to Pakistan

A senior US defence official sought Tuesday to soothe India's concerns about US weapons supplies to arch-rival Pakistan.

US Undersecretary for Defence Michelle Flournoy told reporters in New Delhi that Washington was "clearly observing" how these arms were being used by Pakistan.

The United States is "mindful of these concerns as we take steps to support the equipping of Pakistan for the current counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism purposes," she said at the end of a two-day trip to India.

Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony said last month that the scale of US military assistance to Pakistan was "disproportionate to the war on terror" for which it was intended.

"We feel that there is every possibility of diverting this sophisticated equipment against India," Antony said, during talks with the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen.

India has previously protested the proposed delivery of unmanned US drones to Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since the division of the subcontinent in 1947, and their relationship is beset by mutual mistrust.

Washington sees Pakistan as integral to winning the war in Afghanistan, as Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents targeting coalition forces roam the mountainous region dividing the two countries.

Pakistan receives more than one billion dollars a year from Washington for its help combating the Islamist militants.

US reassures India on military aid to Pakistan-Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

 

[Marxist]

Mindful of India's concerns over Pakistan misusing American weapons against it, the US on Tuesday said it was "clearly observing" how these arms were being used even as it expressed its commitment to combating the LeT-al Qaeda syndicate in its entirety.

US Under Secretary for Defence Michele Flournoy told reporters here that the Obama Administration was "mindful of these concerns as we take steps to support the equipping of Pakistan for the current counter insurgency and counter terrorism purposes."

The US held frank discussion with Pakistan about the purposes and application of the systems and it was "clearly observing" how these were used, apart from having choices of what they would provide and not provide, she said.

"There is a clear emphasis on supporting their (Pakistan's) efforts on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border," she said.

Flourney refused to take a question on the role of ISI in supporting terror groups, as reflected in the US secret security documents leaked on Wikileaks website, but said the US had "a strong interest in fighting terrorism in all its forms."

"We see a strong connection between the LeT and al Qeada. This is a syndicate we are committed to combating in its entirety," she said, adding the US was strongly committed in building cooperation on this and that there was no difference of view on combating terror.

Flournoy, however, said that since the time terror has struck Pakistan's cities, the US has seen a "shift in the political will" reflected in its anti-terror operations in South Waziristan and SWAT regions.

"We are clear-eyed on the status of that effort and we will continue to deal with the terror groups and we need to carry on against the full syndicate of terror network," she said.

India has time and again expressed its concerns to US officials over the possibility of American weapons supplied to Pakistan being misused to enhance conventional war fighting capabilities, creating an imbalance in the South Asian region.

Defence Minister A K Antony had clearly conveyed these apprehensions during his discussions with US National Security Advisor James Jones and Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen during their visits to India recently. Antony had also sought a monitoring mechanism to prevent diversion of American weapons by Pakistan against India.

On the possible supply of UAVs to Pakistan in the near future, Flournoy said Islamabad had sought help in intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance capability in its counter terrorism campaign and the US was considering supply of short range, unarmed UAVs such as 'Shadow' and 'ScanEagle' UAVs for the purpose.

Flournoy, during her visit here, had met Antony, National Security Adviser Shivsankar Menon and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar.

She said the two sides had focused on expanding the cooperation in the field of maritime security such as anti-piracy, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, apart from enhancing defence trade, training and exercises.

They also discussed the US visit of Antony next month on an invitation from his counterpart Robert Gates, the visit of President Barack Obama in November and Defence Planning Group meeting this winter, when the two sides would look at firming up the already growing defence relations.

Flournoy, to a query on the difficulties in India and US signing pending agreements such as the Logistics Support and Communication Interoperability Security, said she had discussed these with Indian officials, adding that these deals were aimed at enabling supply of latest, advanced technology.

"What these agreements enable is the supply of advanced, latest technology to India. Unless these agreements are in place, what India would get is technology that is less advanced by nature," she said.

The US Under Secretary of State, who advises Gates on defence policy, however, said signing of these agreements was clearly India's choice and expressed hope that India would take a decision on signing them before Obama's visit.

Mindful of Indian concerns, US observing Pak's use of weapons - Yahoo! India News

 

[Nahraf]

There should be no doubt that Pakistan will use these weapons to defend itself from invading Martians !

 

[GentlemanObserver]

There should be no doubt that Pakistan will use these weapons to defend itself from invading Martians !

Don't forget Chuck Norris and Sponge Bob SquarePants.

 

[zagahaga]

*poooof* *poooof* sniff snifff ahh come on indian dont get that scared

 

[Ishan]

USA must be having "Kill Switches" on All Pakistani F-16s.. So If They want to prevent it frm using against India.. PAF F-16s Might be sitting ducks

 

[Break the Silence]

USA must be having "Kill Switches" on All Pakistani F-16s.. So If They want to prevent it frm using against India.. PAF F-16s Might be sitting ducks

plz explain the bolded part.
Thanx!

 

[zagahaga]

kill switches are an indian wet dream happy?

 

[Break the Silence]

kill switches are an indian wet dream happy?

Who asked you???

 

[Ishan]

plz explain the bolded part.
Thanx!

USA might be having "Kill Switches " on Any Fighters Plane they Export and Surely having it on PAF's F-16s

If they activate it wud make Their F-16s Disable for any operations and wud be useless..!!

 

[Ishan]

kill switches are an indian wet dream happy?

Dont take it lightly..If they want they can very well do that..!!

 

[zagahaga]

yes and in PAF the people are dumasses that they would buy f 16 with kill switches ha! there nothing like kill switches but source codes that can deny the plane to do anything which yes the US can do .... but kill switches ahahahahhahaha ,, i can just imagine a big safe with 18 f16 kill switches gaurded by 2 US marines loooooollll

 

[Ishan]

yes and in PAF the people are dumasses that they would buy f 16 with kill switches ha! there nothing like kill switches but source codes that can deny the plane to do anything which yes the US can do .... but kill switches ahahahahhahaha ,, i can just imagine a big safe with 18 f16 kill switches gaurded by 2 US marines loooooollll

As if PAF has Great choices that they wud dare USA to say tht they want F-16s with source codes and without killl switches

USA wud just say " Take it or Leave it"

Definately many of F-16s with PAF are vulnerable if America wants

 

[Nahraf]

kill switches are an indian wet dream happy?

Don't take it lightly this is real possibility. All F-16s assembled in Turkey have to go to US for "inspection". One has to wonder why ? The Russian RD-93 engine for JF-17 is a suspect too.

 

[Justin Joseph]

Our sick politicians will surely get assured as they get assured when pakistan was getting atom bomb and missiles.

Look at the irony US of A is not allowing Iran to even build a match box, our companies can't trade with Iran if they want US market.

But we are allowing US to arm our enemy to teeth.

At least we should hard bargain something in return.