Author:
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: September 13, 2009
URL: http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/13/us-funds-used-to-strengthen-against-india-mush.htm
Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf
has said that military aid provided by the United States to Pakistan for the
war against terror during his tenure had been used to strengthen defences
against India, the first such admission by any top Pakistani leader.
Musharraf admitted that he had violated rules
governing the use of the military aid, and justified his actions by saying
he had "acted in the best interest of Pakistan."
In an interview with a news channel, he said
he "did not care" whether the US would be angered by his disclosure.
The former military ruler, who resigned as
president in August last year to avoid impeachment, said he was not ready
to compromise on Pakistan's interests.
India and several influential lawmakers in
the US have been saying that Pakistan had used funds given to it by the US
to take on militants to strengthen its defences against India.
However, Pakistan had been denying the charges.
Musharraf said that if he had not supported the US in the war against terror
after the 9/11 attacks, American forces could have entered Pakistan to capture
its nuclear assets.
He said it was also possible that the US and
India could have jointly attacked the country.
Musharraf said Pakistan's nuclear programme
was so advanced during his tenure that scientists had not only begun enriching
uranium but had also developed plutonium-based weapons.
Asked about scientist A Q Khan's claim that
he had been forced to make a confession about running a nuclear proliferation
network, Musharraf said Khan "had done a lot but he was lying that he
was forced to apologise before the nation."