An academic report claims it has collected the most concrete evidence yet of direct links between Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The report for the London School of Economics is based on interviews with Taliban field commanders.
It said the ISI is providing funding, training and sanctuary to the insurgents on a scale much larger than previously thought.
‘Although the Taliban has a strong endogenous impetus, according to Taliban commanders the ISI orchestrates, sustains and strongly influences the movement,’ wrote author Matt Waldman, a fellow at Harvard University.
‘They say it gives sanctuary to both Taliban and Haqqani groups, and provides huge support in terms of training, funding, munitions, and supplies,’ Mr Waldman added
The report also alleges that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari himself had assured captive, senior Taliban leaders that they were ‘our people’ and had his backing. He had apparently authorised some to be released from prison.
The report concludes that efforts by the Afghan government and NATO-led forces to end the insurgency in Afghanistan will only be possible with Pakistani support.
