Musharraf backtracks, denies diverting US aid

Facing flak in Pakistan, former president Pervez Musharraf today backtracked from his statement that the US military aid meant for the war on terror was diverted to bolster defences against India.

In a statement issued in Philadelphia, Musharraf, currently on a lecture tour of the US, said Pakistan "never violated any agreement or mis-utilised US funds."

"As far as the equipment issued to a military unit is concerned, the equipment moves wherever the unit is deployed," he said.

"The US at the time was aware of what we were doing," he was quoted as saying by Dawn News.

His U-turn came three days after he admitted in a TV interview that the military aid provided by the US to Pakistan for the war against terror during his tenure had been used to strengthen defences against India. He had also said he "did not care" whether the US would be angered by his disclosure.

"No question was asked regarding US funds for fighting the militants in this interview or at any other time," Musharraf said in the statement. "I have never said Pakistan violated any agreement."

The US State Department had said it took "very seriously" Musharraf's admission, but refrained from stating whether it would investigate the matter.

Washington has given a whopping over USD 7 billion in aid to Pakistan since the 9/11 attacks in America to fight terrorism.

Musharraf's retraction came on a day when Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi accused him of doing disservice to the nation by making remarks on the aid issue.

"If he (Musharraf) has said what has been printed in newspapers, then he has not done any service to Pakistan. If he has said this, he has not strengthened Pakistan's case," Qureshi told reporters in his hometown of Multan.

After Musharraf's disclosure, India had said his statement did not come as a surprise.