Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a top former Taliban leader, has confirmed that Pakistan provided funding and support to the Taliban for terrorist activities.
In an interview with the New York Times, Baradar said, “Pakistan’s military and intelligence services provided money, training and sanctuary to the Taliban before and after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.”
Baradar added that the Pakistani military and intelligence services had “long-standing ties” with the Taliban and had been “instrumental” in helping the group launch its insurgency against the Afghan government in the late 1990s.
The former Taliban leader also confirmed that the Pakistani government had provided the Taliban with financial and logistical support over the years, including supplying them with weapons and ammunition.
While Pakistan has publicly denied providing direct support to the Taliban, Baradar’s confirmation of Pakistan’s involvement in the group’s activities adds further credence to the allegation that Pakistan has been aiding and abetting terrorism in the region.