New York:
The US State Department has reacted strongly to the revelation made by former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that US military aid given to Pakistan during his tenure was used to strengthen defences against India.
"I'll just say as a general principle we take very seriously any allegation of using US-origin military assistance for purposes other than we had already agreed to and that we had intended them for," said State Department spokesperson Ian Kelly.
This is the first time that Pakistan has admitted to diverting US aid given to fight the Taliban to strengthen its defenses against India. This is something that New Delhi has long suspected but had no proof of.
Musharraf's admission comes at a time when the Obama administration is asking Congress to approve $7.5 billion in aid to Pakistan over the next five years. As Congress debates the terms of aid to Pakistan next month, the former president's admission will only strengthen those voices that believe that US aid to Pakistan should be strictly monitored.