Spanish spy document blames ISI for arming Taliban against Afghan govt in 2005

Pakistans intelligence agency the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) may have provided help to the Taliban with arms and other aid to fight against the Afghan government in 2005, besides providing them training and intelligence in specialist camps in Pakistan.

London, Oct 2 : Pakistan's intelligence agency the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) may have provided help to the Taliban with arms and other aid to fight against the Afghan government in 2005, besides providing them training and intelligence in specialist camps in Pakistan.

This has been revealed by a leaked Spanish intelligence document.

The secret document, marked confidential and bearing the official seal of Spain's ministry of defence, was published on the website of Spanish radio. It shows that Spanish intelligence officials had reason to believe that the ISI was helping to procure improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in attacking vehicles at a time when coalition forces appeared to be winning against the insurgents.

"The plan is that the Taliban use these remote control IEDs to assassinate high-ranking officials," The Telegraph quoted the report released in August 2005 as saying.

The report noted the "possible existence of advanced training camps used by Taliban in Pakistan where they receive training, support and intelligence from the Pakistani secret services and where they are developing new explosives".

Meanwhile, Pakistani army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas dismissed the Spanish report, saying it was just a propaganda to tarnish Pakistan's image.

"It is baseless, unfounded and part of a malicious, well-orchestrated propaganda campaign to malign the ISI," he said.

ANI