Pentagon assessment: Pak using militant groups to counter India's superior military

In an assessment of terrorist refuge in Pakistan, the Pentagon has told the United States Congress that militant groups are being used by the country as proxies to counter India's superior military.

Pentagon claims in its latest six-monthly report on the current situation in Afghanistan that Pakistan is using such proxies to counter Indian army as well as to hedge against the loss of power in Afghanistan.

Such relationships oppose Pakistan's commitment to support Afghan-led reconciliation and these groups continue to act as the primary source of contention between Afghan-Pakistan bilateral relations, claims the Pentagon report.

The Pentagon also mentioned an attack on the Indian consulate in Herat that took place three days ahead of the swearing in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The fact that Modi is believed to be close to Hindu nationalist groups may have played into the timing of the attack, said the Pentagon.