The New York Times said Pakistan has repudiated the charge that it modified the missiles and claimed that it developed these itself. Between 1985 and 1988, the US had provided 165 Harpoon missiles to Pakistan.

The report has stirred anxieties in New Delhi about Islamabad misusing US aid to bolster its war machine against India.

Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna said that India has conveyed to the US that all forms of aid provided to Pakistan is 'invariably directed' against New Delhi and providing more arms to Islamabad will not help the peace process in the region.