US to India: Keeping close watch on weapons supplied to Pakistan

New Delhi, Apr.19 (ANI): The United States has assured India that it is keeping a close watch on the weapons supplied to Pakistan and, will investigate if there is any 'misuse' of the weapons tramsferred to Islambad.

Addressing reporters in New Delhi, US Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer, said:"There are allegations of misuse of weapons given to Pakistan for other purposes. We will investigate it, Congress will take the issue seriously."

The American assurance came just days after Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, where he reportedly expressed concern over the misuse of American weapons by Pakistan.

In the next few months, the United States will be delivering to Pakistan the first lot of hi-tech eighteen F 16's, 6C/D Block 50/52 combat aircraft, which is being viewed with worry in New Delhi.

Apart from the F-16s, which are worth 1.43 billion dollars, Washington is also forking out 477 million dollars for almost 60 mid-life update kits for its older fleet of F-16s A/B combat aircraft and financing part of the 115 M-109 self-propelled howitzers.

The US has already given 5,250 TOW anti-armour missiles to Pakistan.

Roemer said: "We cannot hyphenate the India-America relationship to AFPAK and Pakistan. Pakistan is doing something in dealing with the threat of Taliban and, we have told them in no uncertain terms that they need to continue to do more."

On India's role in Afghanistan, Roemer said: "India's role in Afghanistan is very critical. President Obama has personally said this to Prime Minister Singh".

"India's role has been a great success, but we also have to look for new roles for India in Afghanistan and, when I go to Afghanistan, I will discuss it with the Indian Ambassador (Jayant Prasad) whether it is education or civil services, we are grateful for it," he added.

Roemer also told reporters that providing access to David Headley, one of the American scouts used by the Lashkar-e-Toiba to locate places that could be attacked, is a top priority for the United States. (ANI)