MADRID - Western intelligence agencies have long suspected that elements of Pakistan's spy service have aided the Taliban in Afghanistan, but a Spanish government report leaked to the media appears to be the first published assessment that spells out such cooperation.
The August 2005 report says Pakistan's shadowy Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency helped the Taliban procure roadside bombs and may even have provided training and intelligence to the Taliban in camps set up on Pakistani soil.
ISI planned to have the Taliban use the explosives "to assassinate high-ranking officials" in Afghanistan, the report said. It also warned of possible advanced training camps in Pakistan "where the Taliban receive training, help and intelligence from the ISI and where they are also developing new kinds" of bombs.
The document, which was obtained by Cadena Ser radio and posted on the station's website Wednesday, was marked "confidential" and bore the Defense Ministry seal and the title of Spain's military intelligence agency.
A Pakistani government spokeswoman acknowledged in August that the government needs to root out Taliban sympathizers from the ISI. Such agents "act on their own in ways that are not in convergence" with Pakistan's interests or policies, said spokeswoman Sherry Rehman. "We need to ... weed them out."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
