Goes far beyond just limited, or occasional support, researchers say
Pakistan’s senior spy agency, the ISI, is directing, funding, and providing sanctuary to the Afghan Taliban, according to a report from the London School Economics, despite Pakistani claims to have severed contact with the Islamist group it helped found almost two decades ago. “This goes far beyond just limited, or occasional support,” said author Matt Waldman. “We’re also saying this is official policy of that agency, and we’re saying that it is very extensive. It is both at an operational level, and at a strategic level, right at the senior leadership of the Taliban movement.” Waldman, who interviewed nine Taliban field commanders last year, said some Taliban claimed ISI agents had attended meetings of their top leadership council, the so-called Quetta Shura.