NATO warns Pakistan’s Musharraf to end covert support for Taliban

Richards flew to Islamabad primarily to convince Musharraf to rein in his military intelligence service, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, which NATO leaders believe is training Taliban fighters to attack the alliance’s troops in Afghanistan. Richards was also expected to deliver the demand that key Taliban leaders living in Pakistan be arrested.

According to the October 8 issue of the Sunday Times, the evidence compiled by US, NATO and Afghan intelligence is purported to include satellite pictures and videos of training camps for Taliban soldiers and suicide bombers inside Pakistan. Among the evidence is an address in Quetta where Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader, is said to live.

The Times reported that captured Taliban fighters and failed suicide bombers have confirmed that they were trained by the Pakistani intelligence service.

Before leaving for Islamabad, Richards told reporters that Musharraf had publicly acknowledged “a Taliban problem on the Pakistan side of the border. Undoubtedly something has got to happen.”

He added pointedly, “We’ve got to accept that the Pakistan government is not omnipotent and it isn’t easy, but it has to be done and we’re working very hard on it. I’m very confident that the Pakistan government’s intent is clear and they will be delivering on it.”

More
http://wsws.org/articles/2006/oct2006/mush-o16.shtml