Rare Taliban praise for
Pakistan's Maulana
Abdul Ghani
Pakistan's Maulana
Abdul Ghani
Pakistan military denies BBC report on Taliban links
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s military strongly denied on Thursday a BBC report that alleged the Pakistani military, along with its intelligence
arm, supplied and protected the Afghan Taliban and al Qaeda.
A number of middle-ranking Taliban commanders detailed what they said was extensive Pakistani support in interviews for a BBC Two
documentary series, the first part of which was broadcast on Wednesday.
A former head of Afghan intelligence also told the programme Afghanistan gave Pakistan’s former president, General Pervez Musharraf,
information in 2006 that Osama bin Laden was hiding in northern Pakistan.
The former al Qaeda leader was killed in the same area by US Special Forces in May this year.
“We consider that this report is highly biased, it is one-sided, it doesn’t have the version of the side which is badly hit or affected by this
report,” Major General Athar Abbas, spokesman for the Pakistani military, told Reuters.
“So therefore, other than that, it’s factually incorrect.”
One Taliban commander, Mullah Qaseem, told the BBC Pakistan had played a significant role in providing supplies and a hiding place for
Afghan Taliban fighters.
Abbas denied the claim, questioning Qaseem’s credibility.
He said the head of Pakistan’s spy agency, the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had already said “not a single bullet or
financial support” had been given to groups named in the BBC report.
The United States has long suspected Pakistan, or elements within the ISI, of supporting militant groups in order to increase its influence
in Afghanistan, particularly after Nato combats troops leave in 2014.
In September, Admiral Mike Mullen, then the top US military officer, accused Pakistani intelligence of backing violence against US targets
including the U.S. embassy in Kabul.
He said the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, blamed for the September, 13 embassy attack, was a “veritable arm” of the ISI.
Pakistan denies the US allegations.
Pakistan supported the Afghan Taliban before the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
It was one of only three countries to have diplomatic relations with the group.
Abbas said the number of attacks against the ISI by the Pakistani Taliban – about 300 ISI officials have been killed in bombings – was
proof the ISI did not support militants.
http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/27/pakistan-military-denies-bbc-report-on-taliban-links.html
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s military strongly denied on Thursday a BBC report that alleged the Pakistani military, along with its intelligence
arm, supplied and protected the Afghan Taliban and al Qaeda.
A number of middle-ranking Taliban commanders detailed what they said was extensive Pakistani support in interviews for a BBC Two
documentary series, the first part of which was broadcast on Wednesday.
A former head of Afghan intelligence also told the programme Afghanistan gave Pakistan’s former president, General Pervez Musharraf,
information in 2006 that Osama bin Laden was hiding in northern Pakistan.
The former al Qaeda leader was killed in the same area by US Special Forces in May this year.
“We consider that this report is highly biased, it is one-sided, it doesn’t have the version of the side which is badly hit or affected by this
report,” Major General Athar Abbas, spokesman for the Pakistani military, told Reuters.
“So therefore, other than that, it’s factually incorrect.”
One Taliban commander, Mullah Qaseem, told the BBC Pakistan had played a significant role in providing supplies and a hiding place for
Afghan Taliban fighters.
Abbas denied the claim, questioning Qaseem’s credibility.
He said the head of Pakistan’s spy agency, the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had already said “not a single bullet or
financial support” had been given to groups named in the BBC report.
The United States has long suspected Pakistan, or elements within the ISI, of supporting militant groups in order to increase its influence
in Afghanistan, particularly after Nato combats troops leave in 2014.
In September, Admiral Mike Mullen, then the top US military officer, accused Pakistani intelligence of backing violence against US targets
including the U.S. embassy in Kabul.
He said the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, blamed for the September, 13 embassy attack, was a “veritable arm” of the ISI.
Pakistan denies the US allegations.
Pakistan supported the Afghan Taliban before the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
It was one of only three countries to have diplomatic relations with the group.
Abbas said the number of attacks against the ISI by the Pakistani Taliban – about 300 ISI officials have been killed in bombings – was
proof the ISI did not support militants.
http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/27/pakistan-military-denies-bbc-report-on-taliban-links.html
By Syed Shoaib Hasan
BBC News, Karachi
BBC News, Karachi
The Taliban in Afghanistan have issued an unprecedented condolence statement on the death of a top right-wing Pakistani politician.
Maulana Abdul Ghani died in a car crash on 26 October in the southern Pakistani province of Balochistan.
It is the first time that the Taliban have publicly admitted receiving help from members of Pakistan's ruling establishment.
Maulana Ghani's JUI-F political party has close links to Pakistan's military.
It was part of the governing coalition until earlier this year.
Pakistan's leadership has always denied any links to the Taliban.
But a Taliban spokesman told the BBC in a statement that Maulana Ghani - a deputy leader of the JUI-F - was a "martyr for the cause of
jihad" - and it would be difficult to replace him.
The former parliamentarian was laid to rest on Wednesday in his native town of Chaman in Balochistan.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC the Taliban's top leadership was in attendance - along with hundreds of local citizens and Taliban foot soldiers.
Later - without giving details - a Taliban spokesman said that Maulana Ghani had shown what he called great courage in supporting the
movement after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
He added that the maulana's services and commitment for the cause of jihad would never be forgotten.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15479758
Maulana Abdul Ghani died in a car crash on 26 October in the southern Pakistani province of Balochistan.
It is the first time that the Taliban have publicly admitted receiving help from members of Pakistan's ruling establishment.
Maulana Ghani's JUI-F political party has close links to Pakistan's military.
It was part of the governing coalition until earlier this year.
Pakistan's leadership has always denied any links to the Taliban.
But a Taliban spokesman told the BBC in a statement that Maulana Ghani - a deputy leader of the JUI-F - was a "martyr for the cause of
jihad" - and it would be difficult to replace him.
The former parliamentarian was laid to rest on Wednesday in his native town of Chaman in Balochistan.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC the Taliban's top leadership was in attendance - along with hundreds of local citizens and Taliban foot soldiers.
Later - without giving details - a Taliban spokesman said that Maulana Ghani had shown what he called great courage in supporting the
movement after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
He added that the maulana's services and commitment for the cause of jihad would never be forgotten.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15479758