US think tank: Pakistan helped Taliban insurgents

Pakistani intelligence agents and paramilitary forces have helped train Taliban insurgents and have given them information about American troop movements in Afghanistan, said a report published Monday by a U.S. think tank.

The study by the RAND Corp. also warned that the U.S. will face "crippling, long-term consequences" in Afghanistan if Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan are not eliminated.

It echoes recent statements by American generals, who have increased their warnings that militant safe havens in Pakistan are threatening efforts in Afghanistan. The study was funded by the U.S. Defense Department.

"Every successful insurgency in Afghanistan since 1979 enjoyed safe haven in neighboring countries, and the current insurgency is no different," said the report's author, Seth Jones. "Right now, the Taliban and other groups are getting help from individuals within Pakistan's government, and until that ends, the region's long-term security is in jeopardy."

Pakistan's top military spokesman rejected the findings.

The study, "Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan," found some active and former officials in Pakistan's intelligence service and the Frontier Corps—a Pakistani paramilitary force deployed along the Afghan border—provided direct assistance to Taliban militants and helped secure medical care for wounded fighters.

It said NATO officials have uncovered several instances of Pakistani intelligence agents providing information to Taliban fighters, even "tipping off Taliban forces about the location and movement of Afghan and coalition forces, which undermined several U.S. and NATO anti- Taliban military operations." No timeframe's were given.

That's a bold statement.  However, I need evidence.  Show me something that proves your accusations, and I'll support a full invasion of Pakistan's "lawless" land and to do it in a unilateral way.  It certainly makes sense that Taliban members are getting support from Pakistani agents.  They seem to be dragging their feet when it comes to capturing and killing Al-Qaeda and Taliban members.

However, I need evidence.  We need to make sure to let the world know we're not fucking around.  A nuclear weapon dropped on Afghanistan would have shown that, but hindsight is always 20/20.

There's always more then one way to skin a cat, I'm just saying let's sharpen our knife collection.

 

Travis

travis@rightwinglunatic.com