WASHINGTON: Close on the heels of a US intelligence report of a resurgence of Taliban in Pakistan's border areas, newly declassified documents reveal that Islamabad was directly involved in funding, arming and advising the militant group.
The National Security Archives of the George Washington University has published details of American concerns over Pakistan's relationship with the Taliban during the seven-year period leading up to the 9/11 attacks.
The revelation comes just days after Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf acknowledged that there is 'no doubt' Afghan militants are supported from Pakistani soil.
"While Musharraf admitted the Taliban were being sheltered in the lawless frontier border regions, the declassified US documents released on Wednesday clearly illustrate that the Taliban was directly funded, armed and advised by Islamabad itself," the National Security Archives said.
The documents, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, also detailed US concerns about Pakistani troops training and fighting alongside the Taliban inside Afghanistan.
"The records represent the most complete and comprehensive collection of declassified documentation to date on Pakistan's aid programmes to the Taliban, illustrating Islamabad's firm commitment to a Taliban victory in Afghanistan," the Archives said.