Bin Laden killing redefines India's ties with Pak: Air Force chief

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik on Wednesday said the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has redefined the complex relationship between India and Pakistan.

Addressing a seminar on national security reforms in New Delhi, Air Chief Marshal Naik said the death of bin Laden has put Pakistan in an uncomfortable position as that country is now answerable to its neighbours and allies, including the U.S., that were the target of the militant outfit.

"Now, we are in the post-Osama era with allegations, counter-allegations.

They'll continue for some time till some clarity emerges. The future of the relations, which are already complex, is now getting redefined. I'm sure that our western neighbour - the Pakis - will devise new and very innovative ways to divert attention and keep amassing US aids that will continue," Air Chief Marshal Naik said.

Bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, which is just two hours from Islamabad in a U.S.-led operation, involving helicopters and troops in the wee hours of May 2, putting Pakistani officials under pressure to explain how he could have lived so close to their capital.

His killing has spurred an intense debate in India, where Muslims constitute 13 percent of the population, and provoked calls for a US-like operation in Pakistan, whom New Delhi blames for giving sanctuary to militants wanted by India.

New Delhi has long maintained Pakistan houses camps for training militants who have been waging a two-decade-old insurgency in Indian Kashmir.

Commenting on the uprising in the Middle Eastern nations, Air Chief Marshal Naik said it would affect India, as the skyrocketing oil prices would further increase.

"Radicalism, religious extremism, upheavals in the Arab world, left-wing extremism within will have a substantial impact on our security environment. The first impact of most of these things would, of course, be oil prices will rise, and then connect to the rest of the scenario," he said.

Unrest in Egypt has sparked fears of supply shortages and already pushed up crude oil prices.

In India, higher crude prices can either be passed through to consumers, further fanning stubbornly high inflation, or can be absorbed by the government, adding to its subsidy bill and straining its fiscal position. (ANI)