PTI
Washington, Sep 5: Accusing Pakistan of misusing the massive American aid to fight the war on terror, Democratic nominee for the US Presidential election Barack Obama, in a sensational comment, has said Islamabad was using these funds for "preparing for a war against India".
Senator Obama vowed to hold Islamabad accountable for the massive military aid it has received from Washington if he is elected to the White House.
He said his administration will increase pressure on the Pakistan to come to terms with terrorist safe havens along its northern border with Afghanistan.
"What we can do is stay focused on Afghanistan and put more pressure on the Pakistanis," Senator Obama said in an interview with Fox News.
He noted that the US was providing Pakistan military aid "without having enough strings attached".
"So they're (Pakistan) using the military aid...Pakistan...they're preparing for a war against India,"
Senator Obama said.
Maintaining that he will follow the Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to the "gates of hell", the Democratic nominee said that this could be accomplished without resorting to sending ground troops to Pakistan.
However, he said his future administration is not going to pullout from the war on terror and allow the fundamentalists to take over Pakistan.
"What we say is, look, we're going to provide them with additional military support, targeted at terrorists, and we're going to help build their democracy.... We've wasted $10 billion with Musharraf without holding them accountable for knocking out those safe havens," Senator Obama said.
He stressed that "nobody talked about some full-blown invasion of Pakistan", but "we've got to put more pressure on Pakistan to do what they need to do".
Comment on this article
Alfred J. Rebello, Kundapoor/Dubai
Sat, Sep 06 2008I hope not world realized a little late what exactly Pakistani Politicians do with the funds they recived in the name of 'WAR ON TERROR'. They claimthey are very much acfter the terrorists but terrorists are still existing and prospering. Pakistan's politicians claim is only a eye wash to get more aid. They only kill a few to show the world they are after terrorists, whenever they need the funds. Their prime motive is to divide India. Therefore, we Indians, keeping our religious sentiments in the back yard and be united so no one dare to attack us. But if we keep undermining our own people in the name of religion then others will take the opportunity. Terrorists, not only danger to India, but to the whole world including Pakistan and I hope Pakistan Government realize this truth sooner than later.
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