‘Operation against drugs in Pakistan impacts Taliban in Afghanistan’

‘Weapons, money drying up’

* Intelligence official calls public, political support for Pakistan Army a ‘critical change’

LAHORE: Among Taliban groups along the border in Afghanistan, weapons are drying up, money is drying up, said Col John Spiszer of the army unit responsible for patrolling north-eastern Afghanistan along the Pakistani border.

Pakistan’s military offensive against the Taliban has slowed the flow of arms and fighters into Afghanistan, US officials have said.

According to a Los Angeles Times report, this has prompted intelligence analysts to issue new assessments of Islamabad’s ability to contain violent extremists.

Intelligence and military officials told the newspaper the revised outlook reflected a series of developments over the last few months.

“All of a sudden military operations are being imbued with a kind of legitimacy, popular support and political support they have never had before,” said a senior US intelligence official.

Major shift: The official described it as a “critical change” in a nation where the government has for years been reluctant to take on the Taliban for fear of being accused of turning the Pakistani military against its own people.

US military officials said the operations in Swat and South Waziristan were already having a measurable effect on the amount of equipment and violence spilling into Afghanistan.

“There’s a definite impact, and I think it almost can't be overstated," Spiszer said, adding Taliban elements appeared to have concluded that they could no longer afford to send as many fighters or weapons into Afghanistan.

Last year was the deadliest for the US-NATO coalition in Afghanistan, with 294 troops killed. This year, 153 more have died with 35 have been killed in June so far – the highest monthly toll of 2009.

A senior Pakistani official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the military had begun “commando-type, special forces operations” aimed at Baitullah Mehsud and was seeking to strengthen his rivals. daily times monitor

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