Pakistan army rejects Spanish spy document on ISI

Islamabad, Oct 4 (UNI) Pakistan Army has rejected the Spanish spy document, which had accused the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) of helping the Taliban in spreading insurgency in Afghanistan and procured them improvised explosive device (IEDs).

A leaked Spanish intelligence document had alleged that the ISI may have provided help to the Taliban with arms and other aid to fight against the Afghan government in 2005, besides providing them training and intelligence in specialist camps in Pakistan.

The secret document, marked confidential and bearing the official seal of Spain's Ministry of Defence, was published on the website of Spanish radio.

It shows that Spanish intelligence officials had reason to believe that the ISI was helping to procure IEDs in attacking vehicles at a time when coalition forces appeared to be winning against the insurgents.

''The plan is that the Taliban use these remote control IEDs to assassinate high-ranking officials,'' The Telegraph quoted the report released in August 2005 as saying.

The report noted the ''possible existence of advanced training camps used by Taliban in Pakistan where they receive training, support and intelligence from the Pakistani secret services and where they are developing new explosives.'' Meanwhile, Chief Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas dismissed the Spanish report, saying it was just propaganda to tarnish Pakistan's image.

''It is baseless, unfounded and part of a malicious, well-orchestrated propaganda campaign to malign the ISI,'' Gen Abbas said. The ISI is an organ that is playing a vital role in the fight against international terrorism, he added.

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