Clinton's aide Huma Abedin attacked for her 'Pakistani' background

A Hindu group in the US has branded the closest aide of US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin, as "pro-terrorist" and questioned her "Pakistani and Saudi background" in a new TV ad targeting Hindu-American voters.

The 30-second TV spot, by The Republican Hindu Coalition, begins by attacking Clinton and goes on to target Abedin, the New York Post online reported on Wednesday.

"Hillary, sympathetic towards Pakistan. Gave billions of dollars in aid and military equipment used against India," the ad says.

"Huma Abedin is of Pakistani origin and will become Chief of Staff if she wins," the ad states. However, there is no indication that Abedin would serve as Chief of Staff in a Clinton administration.

Additionally, the Republican Hindu Coalition is sending 60,000 direct mail pieces to Hindu-American voters in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio that state: "Chief of Staff in Clinton White House will be Huma Abedin, of Pakistani and Saudi background."

Republican Hindu Coalition founder Shalabh 'Shalli' Kumar said Hindu-Americans will be "key" to winning the White House. He claims he's spent $4 million to help elect Clinton's rival Donald Trump, and said he's open to spending a "couple million" more.

"Huma in general is as pro-terrorist as you could be ? she's got a really dark background. I can't even fathom. I don't understand why Hillary will associate herself with Huma," the New York Post quoted Kumar as saying in an interview, referring to Abedin's parents' background.

However, according to several biographies of Hillary Clinton and articles on her entourage, the father of Abedin, who was born in Michigan but lived in Saudi Arabia where her family moved when she was two years old till she came back to US for college, was of Indian descent, while her mother was Pakistani.

Abedin has come under scrutiny after the FBI notified Congress last Friday that it had uncovered additional evidence in the Hillary Clinton e-mail scandal. That evidence was found on a shared laptop she apparently used with her estranged husband, former Representative Anthony Weiner.

--IANS

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