US accuses Pakistan of chopper misuse
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
IIslamabad, Aug 7, IRNA
Pakistan-US
The US government has accused Pakistan's Ministry of Interior of using its expensive helicopters for works other than the purpose they were given, to counter terrorism and drugs smuggling along the Pak-Afghan border.
According to the" Daily Times", Pakistani officials denied the allegation. Sources said the accusation was made by Anne Patterson, US assistant secretary of state for international narcotics control and law enforcement, in a recent meeting with Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao and other Pakistan officials in Washington.
Sources said Ms Patterson said the US had inside information that these helicopters were not being used exclusively to monitor the activities of drug barons and terrorists.
She did not elaborate what these other uses were.
Sources said Mr Sherpao responded that this was not true, and that both the helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft provided to Pakistan by the US were being used for the purposes they were provided.
Mr Sherpao told the US officials that these helicopters were recently used for the assessment of poppy cultivation in the tribal areas of Pakistan.
Sources said the US side at the end of the talks again stressed the need for efficient use of the air assets provided by the USA for border security.
235/1430/1771
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