India has voiced understanding for the giant US aid plan for its historic rival Pakistan despite earlier security fears.
“They believe we have a shared interest in helping to stabilise Pakistan,” said Robert Blake, the assistant secretary of state for South Asia.
“They’re certainly well aware that a spiral-down would not be in India’s interests,” he told a State Department blog forum.
The US last year approved a five-year, 7.5 billion-dollar plan to build the economy and democratic institutions in Pakistan, hoping to dent the appeal of Islamic extremists. He acknowledged that India had been less enthusiastic over US military support to Pakistan than the economic aid, but said: “I think they understand that we are trying to build up Pakistan’s counter-insurgency capabilities.” US has sought Pakistan’s “assurances that the weapons that are provided will not be used against India,” Blake said.