I have no comment on that. Again, India is not my expertise. I think anyone in that region would expect to see Al Qaeda, the Taliban as the reason to worry about. We have focused on Al Qaeda and the Taliban and what the US is doing. We are focused on that, not on the India-Pakistan relationship.

How do you look at the whole geographical region of FATA and its culture?

We pointed out in the April report of the lack of comprehensive strategy. The challenge in respect to FATA is its terrain, the economic situation, the literacy rate as well as the fact that the citizens within FATA do not have adequate equal representation with respect to adjudication matters as well as the judicial system, as citizens of Pakistan. We pointed out that the US is aware of those challenges and is hoping to work with the Pakistani government to maybe change or integrate it with the rest of Pakistan.

Now you are going to give $750 million. Sorry to say this, but a report some four years down the line will likely say that intermediaries made money. The Asian experience is that whatever money comes from the US the speed of development is not absorbed by that geographical area and society.

Yeah, we clearly recognise there can be challenges in FATA in terms of being able to do work with them when it comes to $750 million straight over the next five years. And I would like to hope that given the concerns about accountability, oversight of the coalition funds for Pakistan and the inefficiencies, recommendations we made will help the department of defence. It has been beefing that up that and doing more. It has gone for greater control. We are hoping that this lesson learnt would carry over.

Image: A soldier stands guards beside a bunker in the lawless area of Dara Adam Khel in the North West Frontier Province near Peshawar. Photograph: Tariq Mahmood/AFP/Getty Images.

Also read: 'Al Qaeda likely to launch terror strike from Pak'

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