US rejects Indian concern

[Lockheed F-16]

Updated at: 1541 PST, Wednesday, July 01, 2009
WASHINGTON: Brushing aside Indian concerns on American assistance for Pakistan, the United States has said the Indians should not worry about Washington’s support for Islamabad and rather back the effort to ratchet up its neighbor’s ability to overcome economic and militancy challenges.

Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, rejected the reported contention by visiting Indian parliamentarians last week that Pakistan might divert U.S. aid to build up its forces against India.

The senior diplomat acknowledged Islamabad’s focus on tamping down militancy in its troubled areas and reaffirmed the Obama Administration’s commitment to dramatically increase economic assistance for Pakistan.

“I do not think India needs to be concerned about U.S. assistance to Pakistan. As you know, the new focus in terms of our relationship with Pakistan is to dramatically increase economic assistance to help that country overcome its economic challenges and to extend the writ of the government to other parts of Pakistan,” Blake said, when asked about his response to Indian MPs’ concern that Islamabad might use US aid against their country.

“All of those things should be very much in India’s interest as well. I think the people of India should support and agree with what we are trying to do,” Blake, who received a delegation of Indian MPs last week said while talking to a local newspaper, according to a transcript of the interview released Tuesday.

When pressed on Indian MPs’ concerns, Blake responded by saying “Again, I do not think that they should be concerned about that. Pakistan is increasingly focused on dealing with the extremist problems in its own country. We have seen very important progress that has taken place for example in the Swat Valley. What is important to note is that not only is the Government of Pakistan taking this action, but this action has garnered strong support from Pakistani people”.

“We think this represents a very important development and we should give the Government of Pakistan encouragement to continue this process of confronting the extremists inside Pakistan,” he added.

In answer to a question, Blake said Washington intends to continue to consult very closely with our friends in India on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“Afghanistan and Pakistan are strategic priorities, but I do not want to imply that comes at the expense of India. India will continue to be also a strategic priority for the United States,” he stated.