Bolstered by Pakistan's continuing military support and encouraged by the USA'sdiplomatic support to its military operations against the Liberation Tigers ofTamil Eelam (LTTE), the Sri Lankan government of President Mahinda Rajapakse hasbeen increasingly insensitive to India's concerns over the humanitariancatastrophe facing the Sri Lankan Tamil community. Even while describing Indiaas Sri Lanka's "best friend"—Mr Rajapakse continues with his policyof targeted killings of innocent Tamil civilians through punitive air strikesand the use of heavy artillery and has been trying to bring them down to theirknees through a policy of starving them.