Spanish report links ISI to Taliban

A confidential Spanish defence ministry report has alleged Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency helped arm the Taliban in 2005 for assassination plots against the Afghan government, media reports said.

The confidential report, obtained by Cadena Ser radio and posted on the station's Web site, also alleges the Inter Services Intelligence helped the Taliban procure roadside bombs.

"The Taliban, with the help of Al Qaeda and Pakistan's ISI, received explosives that were to be activated at long distance," according to the Daily Times, which quoted the report.

"The plan was that the Taliban used these devices against vehicles to assassinate... even though it did not specify against what type of targets," according to the report.

The report also said, Spain's military intelligence body, also noted the "possible existence of training camps for the production of improvised explosives devices in Pakistani territory, where Taliban received training, support and information from the Pakistani secret service."

The report said the ISI planned to have the Taliban use the explosives "to assassinate high-ranking officials."

However, Pakistani Army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas has described the report as "baseless, unfounded and part of a malicious, well-orchestrated propaganda campaign to malign the ISI."

"ISI is the first line of defence of Pakistan and certain quarters are attempting to weaken our national intelligence system," Abbas said.

In Spain, the defence ministry and prime minister's office said they had no comment, the Pakistani newspaper reported.