Pakistan government arming Taliban at night

WASHINGTON: Pakistan is clandestinely continuing to supply the Taliban regime with military supplies, US officials have affirmed, confirming the assessment of Indian intelligence agencies first reported in the Indian media.

The military goods, including ammunition and fuel, are being sent with the help of elements of the Pakistani government, officials familiar with intelligence reports of the transfers were quoted as saying in The Washington Times.

The trade is said to take place at night by trucks. The goods travel from Quetta to the Pakistani border town of Chaman and then on to Kandahar, the Taliban stronghold.

"There are two border control regimes: One before sundown and one after sundown," the paper quoted an unnamed US official as saying. The paper also quoted Indian intelligence assessments first reported in Indian media.

The Pakistan embassy in Washington, expectedly, denied the report. The State Department, which has long sought to project that the war on terrorism has the full support of the Musharraf regime, said it is unaware of any such reports of official Pakistani transgression but is aware that "there are pockets of influence in Pakistan for the Taliban." It is possible that some private individuals may be sneaking in supplies to the Taliban, a state department official said.

But US officials have repeatedly indicated in recent days that sections of the Pakistani army and intelligence with pro-Taliban proclivities have been undermining the American effort. Several newspaper editorials and commentaries have also warned the Bush regime of the double game being played by the Pakistani establishment. There are also calls against showering Pakistan with economic largesse without tighter controls over its maverick intelligence agency and oversight of its nuclear weapons program.

Doubts and distrust of the Pakistani establishment first surfaced within days of the September 11 attacks when Washington forced General Musharraf to purge pro-Taliban elements around him, including his intelligence chief Mahmoud Ahmed and several top generals. This was followed by the arrest of three top Pakistani nuclear scientists said to have close links in Afghanistan.

The State Department had been publicly effusive about the "full cooperation" the administration is receiving from Pakistan, despite General Musharraf’s comment soon after the September 11 attack that he was supporting the United States because it is "lesser of the two evils."

But the action in the background betrays other sentiments. Along with the aerial bombardment and ground attack in Afghanistan, Washington is also fighting a shadowy battle in Islamabad against Taliban sympathisers within the Pakistani establishment.

Navy keeps an eye on Chinese aircraft carrier By Brian Hsu

STAFF REPORTER

The navy has been closely watching a former Soviet Union aircraft carrier that China bought from Ukraine in the name of a private company two years ago.

The ship had been moored in a Turkish port waiting for permission from the local government to pass through the Bosporus Straits, a military leader said recently.

It is estimated that the Varyag aircraft carrier is due to arrive at its announced destination -- Macao -- within one month of its passage through the Bosporus Straits of Turkey, said Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Li Chieh (§õ³Ç)."We believe the main purpose for China buying the carrier is not to use it against Taiwan. But the possibility of other uses is still there." Li Chieh, Navy commander-in-chief

"We have been keeping a close eye on the ship. We have taken a lot of photos of it. We believe the main purpose for China buying the carrier is not to use it against Taiwan. But the possibility of other uses is still there," Li said.

Li made the remarks at a recent press dinner as part of his answer to inquiries about the navy's view on China's imminent acquisition of the best used aircraft carrier it has ever bought from a foreign country.

It is rumored that China will use the Varyag as the model for its first aircraft carrier. However, Li declined to confirm this.

China bought the Varyag from Ukraine in the name of a Macao-based travel agency. The agency has been widely reported by the Western press as a front organization for the Chinese military whose purpose is to develop a floating entertainment complex.

The Turkish government announced on Thursday that the green light for the Varyag to move through the Bosporus Straits could be given any time after Thursday. China has been waiting two years for this permission to be given.

The Turkish government had been reluctant to give permission for the Varyag to pass through the Bosporus straits because it thought it was dangerous for the giant engineless ship to move through the narrow waterways.

But due to intensive diplomatic efforts by high-level Chinese government officials over the past few months, Ankara eventually compromised with Beijing last week.

The Chinese government's active involvement in the negotiations with Turkey over the Varyag issue gives strength to speculation that the ship is to be used by China to develop its first aircraft carrier.

A defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is estimated that China has the ability to build its first aircraft carrier in five years on the basis of designs it has learned from foreign countries.

"The question now is whether China is capable of properly maintaining the aircraft carrier after its becomes operational. It will surely force China to increase its defense spending," the official said.

"In addition, China does not have enough pilots to operate Russian-made Su-30 fighter-bombers, which it plans to deploy on its first aircraft carrier. Su-30 pilots have to be well-trained for landing on the deck of the carrier. China has a long way to go yet to get enough qualified pilots for the carrier-based Su-30s," he said.

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