Elements of three Pakistan commando regiments arecurrently operating in support of Taliban forces in northern Afghanistan andthese will soon be reinforced by additional troops from two Frontier corpsregiments, Ahmadshah Massoud, commander of Afghanistan's opposition United Fronthas said.
"Despite mounting international pressure onPakistan over its support for the Taliban, Islamabad is anxious to see decisiveTaliban gains this year," Massoud said in an interview published in thelatest issue of Jane's Defence Weekly.
"Some 10 days after my return from Europe in lateApril Pakistani military chiefs held a meeting in which it was decided to pressahead with the war," he said.
According to the report, Western military analysts,however, remain sceptical of such claims, pointing out the UF chief has beenconspicuously unable to produce convincing evidence of the deployment of regularPakistani combat units — as distinct from religious volunteers and militaryadvisers attached to Islamabad's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate.
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Massoud argued that continued military resistance tothe Taliban remains essential if the Kabul regime is to be brought to thenegotiating table and the way opened for a political settlement.
Such a settlement, he said, should instal an interimgovernment — possibly including ex-king Zahir Shah and other neutral Afghans— which should work to collect weaponry, re-establish security and prepare forgeneral elections after one or two years.
