US has assured end-use monitoring of security aid to Pakistan: Government

NEW DELHI: The US has conveyed to India it has put in place an "effective oversight" and end-use monitoring system to ensure that security assistance given to Pakistan is used solely to combat terrorism.

The US last month had proposed $860 million in aid for Pakistan, including $265 million for military hardware, which it said would help the country fight terrorists, secure nuclear weapons and improve ties with India.

The US has been giving financial aid to Pakistan, both for civil and military purposes from time to time.

"India has consistently conveyed its concerns and sensitivities to the US government regarding the US security assistance to Pakistan.

"The US government has conveyed that it has put in place effective oversight and end-use monitoring mechanisms to ensure that its security assistance to Pakistan is used solely for counter-terrorism related purposes," Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said while replying to a question in Lok Sabha.

Last month, the Obama Administration had decided to sell eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets worth nearly $700 million to Pakistan. Reacting to the decision, India had said it will create "negative sentiment" in the India-US relationship.

Replying to a separate question, Singh said a total of 25,049 people of Indian origin died abroad since 2013. He said in 2013, a total of 7,433 people died while in 2014, it was 7,691 and in 2015, it was 8,312. In 2016, a total of 1,613 people of Indian origin have died.

To another query, he said 115 incidents of attacks, involving 276 Indian nationals, have been reported in 30 countries in last three years.

"As a result of these attacks, 57 Indian nationals lost their lives," the Minister said.