After the United States has spent more than $5 billion in a largely failed effort to bolster the Pakistani military effort against the al-Qaeda and the Taliban, some American officials now acknowledge that there were too few controls over how the money was spent, and that funds were diverted to help finance weapons systems designed to counter India.

In interviews in Islamabad and Washington, Bush administration and military officials said they believed that much of the American money was not making its way to frontline Pakistani units but going to weapons systems for countering India, not the al-Qaeda or the Taliban.

“I personally believe there is exaggeration and inflation,” said a senior American military official who has reviewed the programme, referring to Pakistani requests for reimbursement.

Pakistani officials say they are incensed at what they see as American ingratitude for counterterrorism efforts that have left about 1,000 of its soldiers and police officers dead. They deny any overcharging has occurred.

The $5 billion was provided through a programme known as the Coalition Support Funds, which reimburses Pakistan for conducting military operations to fight terrorism. Under a separate programme, Pakistan receives $300 million per year in traditional American military financing that pays for equipment and training.

Civilian opponents of President Pervez Musharraf say he used the reimbursements to prop up his government. One European diplomat in Islamabad said the US should have been more cautious with its aid. “I wonder if the Americans have not been taken for a ride,” said the diplomat.

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