July 23rd, 2010  - by Najam

WASHINGTON: The United States told New Delhi on Friday that it would continue to sell weapons to Pakistan, and that the sale does not pose a threat to India.  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen expressed his confidence that the weapons the United States is selling to Pakistan are being used for their intended purpose – to fight Al-Qaida and related terrorist organizations.  But Mullen, who was in New Delhi, urged Indian leaders to continue to discuss their concerns with him and other U.S. officials.
“We certainly understand the concerns and at the same time I don’t believe that we’ve sold any weapons to Pakistan which greatly imbalance the capability between the two countries,” the Voice of America quoted Admiral Mullen in a report on Friday. The admiral said the United States does not monitor the exact location or use of each item it sells to Pakistan, but his confidence they are being used properly is based on the increased trust between the U.S. and Pakistani governments built up in recent years.  U.S. officials also noted that the United States has sold sophisticated weapons to India, and is working on more sales, possibly including fighter jets.
Admiral Mullen praised recent improvements in U.S.-Indian relations, including an agreement signed Friday by the American Ambassador and India’s Home Minister to create a Counterterrorism Cooperation Initiative. The initiative includes a plan for cooperation on cyber security, which Admiral Mullen cited as a key area for U.S.-Indian cooperation, the radio service reported. The admiral welcomed the recent India-Pakistan dialogue, but said he was “discouraged” when the talks broke down.

Source: News Agencies