Musharraf Admits U.S. Aid Diverted To Strengthen Defense Against India

BBC NEWS :

Former president Pervez Musharraf says the US military aid given to Pakistan during his tenure was used to strengthen defences against India.

The money was used to arm the troops who moved with their equipment from the western border to the east based on the perceived threats, he said.

Read the whole story: BBC NEWS

Comments

[arvay]

The longer I follow these events, the more I'm convinced that the Pakistanis are the true masters of the situation.

W gives them enormous sums, which they use at their own discretion. Probably W knew eventually, but didn't want to say anything.

They have, and will continue to back specific Taliban groups. Contrary to our screeching, they have proven their ability to crush rogue Taliban elements in Swat. Remember all the headlines about how Pakistan was crumbling? Now, they're finding Taliban bodies all over the place.

And they will continue to back their Taliban friends in Afghanistan until their foreign policy objective -- an Afghan government not friendly to India -- is in place. We need to recognize reality, and let them pick the right "Taliban" to negotiate with so we can get out without looking routed. India won't be happy, but maybe their inability to "flank" Pakistan will encourage realistic negotiations over Kashmir.

And we're stuck with Pakistan as an "ally," both because of their nuclear weapons and because they can easily provide nuclear weaponization know-how to others if we proved truculent.

[Khirad]

Biggest non-story ever... like duuuuuuuuuh. So Mushy admitted it, whatever.

[allknowingandseeing]

A CIA official famously said” The Pakistanis will sell their mothers for a few dollars”----I don’t understand why successive U.S. govts are so gullible when it comes to Pakistan. Maybe because the last operation CIA launched successfully was against the Soviets in Afghanistan, and the Pakistanis were at the right place at the right time. Since then the Americans have always gotten lousy deals for their billions. Also this came at the expense of India, a true democracy. It is still not too late. The U.S. should suspend all aid to Pakistan until it actually starts to dismantle the jihadi groups(not just a few in the north-west frontier

[Henry DA 08]

If I was Musharraf, I would have done the exact same thing. Pakistan bought 16 F-16 fighter jets that US never delivered and never returned the money to Pakistan.

Pakistan is trying to survive next to the giant India next door.

Its all about balance folks. Whatever region of the world you look at, there is balance in the nuclear race. Thus the chances of a nuclear war is slim to none.

Of course there is the Middle East and the only place on earth a balance doesn't exist.

[chicagomike]

Nonsense..."we "didn't return the money?" WE GAVE THEM THE MONEY in the first place.

India is not about to muck around in Pakistan...they don't need that headache. There is no threat, unless Pakistan attacks them. Pakistan needs to get over Kashmir, which it will never be able to conquer or obtain in any other way.

Our endless involvement with this hopeless failed state goes back to the Cold War, We were angry that India chose to become "non-aligned" and made Pakistan our puppet to compensate. We are paying for that stupid decision in spades.

[chicagomike]

What a disgusting, arrogrant pri*k. It's time to get out of Afghanistan and leave Pakistan to its own chaos and corruption.

[Harmony1812]

Sure, why not? He knows we will fight his Afganistan front. He needs to take responsibility for his people. He's been taking advantage of us for way too long. He's a problem.

[Spencaa]

You know, I'm Canadian, and I have NEVER understood why the US constantly funds Pakistan who then uses the money to face off with India. I mean, India should be the ally the US wants in the region. Why give the money to a dictatorship?

Plus, it always astounds me how blind the Pakistani leadership is. They are more concerned about India then their own internal problems...you know, the TALIBAN? The ones who they are currently fighting, not India?

[Harmony1812]

I'm sure that India doesn't appreciate us backing up Pakistan. And we shouldn't be in the middle.

[PWM]

Amazing. The US sides with this dictatorship pseudodemocratic state over India.

[Libertarian78]

Well duh!!
That's all it was ever used for!