US taking Musharraf's expose on aid use against India seriously

Washington, Sep.15 (ANI): The United States has said that it is taking revelations by former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that aid provided by America for the war against terrorism was diverted during his tenure to strengthen defences against India seriously.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters here on Monday that Washington takes all such allegations seriously and there is a procedure to investigate any violation, diversion of its aid by any country. But Kelly refused to confirm if any investigation in this regard was already on.

He also said that the allegations were not specific and as of now the US was not aware of any such violations.

"This is a former President who has made these allegations. We take seriously any allegations like this. But simply we don't have the details to be able to respond to the allegations," Kelly said at a news briefing.

In an interview to a Pakistani news channel, Musharraf admitted that he had violated the rules governing the use of the military aid, but justified his action, saying he had "acted in the best interest of Pakistan".

India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, said Musharraf's revelation did not come as a surprise.

"We have for some years now arguing that the only problem we have with the US military aid to Pakistan is its misuse against us," Tharoor said in New Delhi. (ANI)