Pakistan should concentrate on internal threats

Pakistan should concentrate on internal threats: Roemer

Bangalore, Feb 9 (PTI) Defending its arms sales to Pakistan, US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer today said Islamabad needs to concentrate on internal threats posed by various militant outfits and use arms provided by US to combat them. Reacting over India's concerns regarding US defence sales to Pakistan, he said US President Barack Obama had taken a very clear stand by stating that he would not participate in any kind of military build up against India and the arms sales to Pakistan should not be used against New Delhi. "Those are for Pakistan to fight its own internal threats... we want Pakistan to concentrate on its own internal threats" be it the Al Qaida or the LeT, he said. "Pakistan needs to focus on the internal threats of terrorism and to use the arms we provide to counter terrorism," he said. Reiterating the US commitment to India, he said Obama had pledged his personal and the country's support to enable India to have a permanent seat in the UN security council. "He has not said that to Pakistan", he said. Roemer also pointed out that US had looked into a civil nuclear agreement with India, but the same had not been extended to Pakistan. "India is the corner stone of our global partnership," he said. To a question on whether there were any conditions for the US supporting India to have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, Roemer said the President had elicited clear support for India. "There are no ifs, ands, buts or any conditions," he said. Measures like according greater access to more superior technology and removing nine entities from the list were indications of its commitment to strengthening this strategic partnership. These technologies are only exchanged with its closet allies, he said, adding, "India is an extraordinary close, indispensable partner of the US." He said the visit of US President to India was a historic one and was indication of the trend the relationship was moving towards. It was optimistic and positive where India was being treated as an emerging global power, he said. On India's intentions to finalise the MMRA deal in the next fiscal, he said, "US is very honoured to be in competition. We have two very good planes to compete. Both of superior technology." It would help modernise the IAF and add "little muscle to the airforce," he said.