Pakistan´s ISI intelligence agency involved with Taliban on large scale by Zuzana Zelenakova

According to a British study published Sunday by the London School of Economics, Pakistan´s military intelligence agency ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) is directly involved with the Taliban movement funding and training its members, and providing supplies. The report says it is even represented on the Taliban´s leadership council having a significant say in its operations. Naturally, the suggestions raise concerns over Pakistan´s commitment to end war in Afghanistan. The study further says Pakistani President Asif Ali Zadari supposedly visited senior Taliban members imprisoned in Pakistan sometime this year and promised them release and help in military o! perations. "Pakistan appears to be playing a double-game of astonishing magnitude," stated the report based on interviews with various commanders and security officials from Taliban as well as from the Western countries and Afghanistan. In general, Western officials have been avoiding comment on the subject in order to secure ongoing Pakistan´s support and cooperation. "The Pakistan government's apparent duplicity -- and awareness of it among the American public and political establishment -- could have enormous geo-political implications," said the author of the study Matt Waldman. "Without a change in Pakistani behaviour it will be difficult if not impossible for international forces and the Afghan government to make progress against the insurgency," he added. Pakistan´s military spokesman Athar Abbas called the report ridiculous. The war in Afghanistan began as a response to the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and its aim has been to destroy the Al-! Qaeda organization and remove the Taliban regime that provided! support and shelter for Al-Qaeda. Osama bin Laden came to Afghanistan in 1996 and after initial conflicts he and the Taliban´s leader Mullah Omar created an alliance. The connections between the two organizations were reportedly strengthened also by marriage of the leaders´ children.

related story (sgx17567): http://www.france24.com/en/20100613-pakistan-isi-intelligenc...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

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