Ahmed Rashid: Pakistan still supporting the taliban

Rival aims hinder war on terror

By Ahmed Rashid in Lahore

And other pressures have been piling up on Islamabad after comments by US Vice President Dick Cheney and CIA Chief Porter Goss that they know where Osama Bin Laden is and that he is not in Afghanistan.

Diplomatic crisis

Both seem to be saying that Bin Laden is in Pakistan.

While Afghan leaders feel vindicated by such comments and have stepped up their criticism of Islamabad, Pakistan has taken acute umbrage.

Double game

Now he goes into the parliamentary elections in September without a political party, a national platform or a clear ideology.

By blaming Pakistan for his problems he takes the heat off his own political shortcomings.

Pakistan's military regime has certainly - despite diplomatic denials - provided sanctuary and support to the Taleban since they retreated into Pakistan after their defeat in 2001.

Gen Musharraf has played a determined double game with the Americans convinced that this is in the army's interest.

Islamabad knows its alliance with the US is short term, predicated on the war on terror - as long as it lasts.

Washington's real interest is in building up rival India as a bulwark in the region - something the Pakistani military is desperate to delay if not scuttle.

Thus the military feels it has every reason to keep the Americans bogged down in Afghanistan by sustaining the Taleban, while keeping Washington on side by helping hunt down al-Qaeda.