Government has conveyed to the US its concerns over the possibility of American military aid provided to Pakistan for counter-terror purposes being misutilised.
Government today said that it has conveyed to the US its concerns over the possibility of American military aid provided to Pakistan for counter-terror purposes being misutilised against India.
"We have conveyed our concerns to the US regarding the risk of diversion of US military aid meant for counter insurgency operations by Pakistan towards acquisition of conventional weapons by Pakistan for their deployment against India," external affairs minister SM Krishna told the Rajya Sabha in written reply to a question.
The US government has noted our concerns, he said, adding the UPA government was committed to the steps that are necessary to safeguard the nation's security.
In reply to another question, Krishna said that notwithstanding assurances given at the highest level by Pakistan, India has been repeatedly and severely hit by terrorist attacks emanating from Pakistan.
He said Pakistan assured India on January 6, 2004 and September 24, 2008 that it would not permit its territory to be used for terrorism against India in any manner.
In reply to a question on issuance of visas to the Hindus living in Pakistan, Krishna said visas are issued to Pakistan nationals in terms of the 1982 Visa agreement between the two countries.
"Pakistani nationals are eligible to be issued visas, including for religious purposes, subject to the satisfactory fulfilling of requirements listed in the application form and on completion of verification procedures," Krishna added.
On a question pertaining to the progress of a direct express link between the historic Sikh shrines located at Kartarpur sahib in Pakistan and Dera Baba Nanak in India, Krishna said Pakistan is yet to respond to a draft handed over to it in October 2005 to revise the existing protocol on visit to religious shrines.
"During the visit of the foreign minister of Pakistan to India in June 2008, it was proposed by us that a team of India could be sent to Kartarpur Sahib to work out the modalities of pilgrimage," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}