PAKISTAN: NATO TO DISCUSS SPY AGENCY'S SUPPORT OF TALIBAN

Islamabad, 10 Oct. (AKI/DAWN) - The commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Afghanistan Lt-Gen David Richards is in Pakistan and is scheduled to meet Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday. Richards is expected to discuss alleged support of the Taliban by Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence. "The matter of Taliban gaining strength in Pakistan and posing a threat to the UK-led NATO forces will come up for discussion during our meetings with President Pervez Musharraf and other officials," a member of the Nato delegation told the Pakistani daily Dawn.

He said the organisation had substantial evidence about the ISI indirectly helping the Taliban. He said there were also indications that Taliban leader Mullah Omar was in Pakistan.

An official confirmed that the NATO commander was due to meet Musharraf on Tuesday. He also planned to meet military commanders during his two-day visit, the official said.

Lt-Gen Richards was received by General Headquarters Director-General Lt-Gen Arif Hayat.

Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam on Monday rejected as baseless the charge that the Taliban were being indirectly helped by the ISI.

According to a document prepared by an official in the Defence Academy, a think-tank linked to the UK defence ministry, the ISI indirectly backs terrorism by supporting religious parties in Pakistan.