No link between American aid and Pak nuclear capability: US

Washington, May 18: Amidst reports that Pakistan is enhancing its nuclear capabilities and increasing its nuke arsenal even as it seeks massive aid from the United States for its military and civic needs, the Obama Administration today said there is no link between the two.

"We shouldn't draw any links between the issues of our assistance package and their nuclear capability," State Department spokesperson Ian Kelly told reporters at his daily press briefing in response to questions on a New York Times report that Pakistan is expanding its nuclear arsenal.

Kelly said that the assistance package is for very specific purposes and Obama Administration which is proposing some USD 7.5 billion non-military aid to Pakistan in the next five years and also a substantial increase in its military aid, would make sure that the package is well spent.

"We shouldn't connect these dots..Because this assistance package is for very specific purposes and we're going to work very closely with the government of Pakistan for us to meet our joint goal...Of helping them re-establish stability. I don't see necessarily a connection between the two," he said.

"We're going to work closely with Pakistan to make sure that the money is spent for the specific purposes that the US Congress had in mind," he said. PTI