The United States has long suspected that much of the billions of dollars it has sent Pakistan to battle militants has been diverted to the domestic economy and other causes, such as fighting India.

Now the scope and longevity of the misuse is becoming clear: Between 2002 and 2008, while al Qaeda regrouped, only $500 million of the $6.6 billion in U.S. aid actually made it to the Pakistani military, two army generals tell the Associated Press.

The account of the generals, who asked to remain anonymous because military rules forbid them from speaking publicly, was backed up by other retired and active generals, former bureaucrats and government ministers.

At the time of the siphoning, Pervez Musharraf, a U.S., ally, served as both chief of staff and president, making it easier to divert money intended for the military to bolster his image at home through economic subsidies.

"The army itself got very little," said retired Gen. Mahmud Durrani, who was ambassador to the United States under Musharraf. "It went to things like subsidies, which is why everything looked hunky-dory. The military was financing the war on terror out of its own budget."

Generals and ministers say the diversion of the money hurt the military in very real ways:

-- Helicopters critical to the battle in rugged border regions were not available. At one point in 2007, more than 200 soldiers were trapped by insurgents in the tribal regions without a copter lift to rescue them.

-- Equipment was broken, and training was lacking. It was not until 2007 that money was given to the Frontier Corps, the front-line force, for training.

The details on misuse of aid come as the United States again promises Pakistan money. Legislation to triple general aid to Pakistan cleared Congress last week.

The legislation also authorizes "such sums as are necessary" for military assistance to Pakistan, upon several conditions. The conditions include certification that Pakistan is cooperating in stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons, that Pakistan is making a sustained commitment to combatting terrorist groups and that Pakistan security forces are not subverting the country's political or judicial processes.

The United States is also insisting on more accountability for reimbursing money spent. For example, Pakistan is still awaiting $1.7 billion for which it has billed the United States under a Coalition Support Fund to reimburse allies for money spent on the war on terror.

But the United States still can't follow what happens to the money it doles out.

Musharraf's spokesman, retired Gen. Rashid Quereshi, flatly denied that his former boss had shortchanged the army. He did not address the specific charges.