'Study says Pak's ISI supports Taliban'

Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency is providing funding, training and sanctuary to the Taliban in Afghanistan, a new study by the London School of Economics (LSE) claimed, reports said today.

Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency is providing funding, training and sanctuary to the Taliban in Afghanistan, a new study by the London School of Economics (LSE) claimed, reports said on Sunday.

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The report, based on interviews with nine Taliban field commanders in Afghanistan earlier this year, claims to have the most concrete evidence yet of direct links between the ISI and the militants, the BBC and Sky News reported.

Some of those interviewed said ISI was even officially represented on the Taliban's leadership council, according to the report by Harvard University fellow Matt Waldman.

It concludes that without a significant change in approach by Pakistan, both the Afghan government and NATO-led forces will find it impossible to end the insurgency in Afghanistan.