Thaindian News

New Delhi, Mar 20 (ANI): United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, on Saturday assured India that the supply of hi-tech weapons to Pakistan by the US is meant to deal with the challenges on the Afghanistan border.

On the supply of arms by US to Pakistan, Blake said that military relationship between them has been changing and they are meant to deal with the challenges at the Afghanistan border.

“We have had a good dialogue with our Indian friends about this important matter. We assure our Indian friends that the arms sale to Pakistan, the character and the nature of our military relationship is really changing now in Pakistan,” said Blake.

“We are increasingly focused on the counter insurgency capabilities of the Pakistani military so that it can deal with the very important challenges on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and to continue to more effectively prosecute the war against the al Qaeda and against the various Taliban elements located in Pakistan,” he added.

Blake claimed that there is a good progress in this regard.

Blake said Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Toiba is emerging as a major threat and Pakistan would be asked to deal with it seriously.

“We think it’s very important that Pakistan take on LeT threat and not just because of the security and stability of the United States but also of India and other countries. So this is something I am sure will be discussing on our trip to Pakistan next time,” added Blake.

India has been expressing concern over the United States decision to supply hi-tech weapons to Pakistan.

As per reports US has cleared the supply of sophisticated laser-guided bomb kits, 12 surveillance drones and 18 F-16 fighters to enhance Pakistan’s military capability to strike at Taliban and al-Qaeda targets located in remote tribal areas of Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

India has put the blame on LeT terror outfits for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in which at least 166 people, including six Americans were killed. (ANI)