NEW DELHI: Reports of a $500-million Washington aid package to Pakistan and a period of intense border shelling in Kashmir have overshadowed the run-up to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to India in the next few days.

Kerry travels to India on Saturday to attend an investment summit promoted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held in his home state of Gujarat, the US State Department said. It declined comment on media reports Kerry may also visit Pakistan.

President Barack Obama will make a second official trip to India later in the month, seeking to strengthen ties between the world’s two largest democracies.

Despite Modi and Obama’s well-publicised chemistry at talks in Washington last year, renewed friction between South Asia’s nuclear-armed neighbours is a reminder of underlying anger in New Delhi at US support for its arch-rival.

“This may be a bit of a sobering moment for those who thought we might see a blooming of the relationship,” said Harsh Pant, professor of international relations at King’s College London.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947, and Washington’s financial support to Pakistan’s military and government is a constant irritant in New Delhi, where Kerry is widely seen as pro-Pakistan.

Pakistan announced last week that the US ambassador had said a request had been made to Congress for a $532 million aid payment under an act co-authored by Kerry in 2009. Washington denied that on Monday, but not before drawing India’s ire.

“How the Government of the United States of America decides to spend US tax payers’ money is entirely its prerogative,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said in a statement.

“However, India does not believe that Pakistan is showing ‘sustained commitment’,” against militants, he added.