Focus on internal threat rather than India, US tells Pak

Washington, Apr.25 (ANI): The United States has once again urged Pakistan to focus more on the Taliban threat that is challenging its very existence rather than its arch rival India.

Addressing the House Appropriations Committee, CENTCOM chief General. David Petraeus once again highlighted the immediate need for Pakistan to address its internal threat.

"Pakistan must reconfigure its military forces to deal with counterinsurgency operations rather than to continue its conventional focus on traditional rival India," The Washington Post quoted General Petraeus, as saying.

Petraeus also urged the congressional committee to support and approve the three billion dollars aid which would permit more rapid and pinpointed US training, and would also enable the Pakistani security forces to acquire sophisticated weapons to counter the threat and combat insurgents in the lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border.

According to an outline of the program, the proposed aid by General Petreaus would be directly controlled by the Central Command, which would withhold equipment from Pakistani forces until they complete required training.

General Petreaus also informed that the U.S. military training is currently underway for Pakistani forces, though in small numbers, that operate in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). (ANI)