ISI-Taliban links should be cut off: Pentagon

While answering the questions of reporters Wednesday about the recently leaked NATO report that mentions alleged ISI links with Taliban, Pentagon spokesman, Capt. John Kirby said "there is nothing new about the information of links between some elements of ISI and Taliban". "We have made it clear already that Pakistan needs to act against safe heavens", he stressed while going on to add that "we would like ties between some elements of ISI and Taliban to be cut-off". He, however, cautioned that the report was classified and done inside ISAF, based on thousands of interviews with detainees. "This report is not an analysis and is merely informational", he said arguing that "it is important to understand that detainees have several motivations for what they do or do not say". When asked about the reaction of Pakistan dismissing the report about such links, he said that he had not seen the reaction of Pakistan, in which they dismissed this report. On another question whether this report will further escalate tensions between both countries, he said "we have already said after November 26 firing incident (that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers) as well that we respect Pakistani concerns". Kirby went on to reiterate that the "US is committed to having a better relationship with Pakistan, because it is in the interest of both countries". "We want to move past this tension with Pakistan, because we have a lot of common interest", he added.  "Pakistan also faces a threat from terrorists and has been making a lot of sacrifices. Thousands of Pakistani citizens and soldiers have fallen victim to terrorism", he regretted. When pressed further to discuss the implications of the NATO report, he said "this is a classified report and I am not prepared to discuss the contents of this report". I can only say that "Taliban are under pressure and influence of security forces is increasing in Afghnaistan". "Taliban have been a determined adversary though and it is a known fact that they want to have control of Afghanistan back", he pointed out. On another question whether the lifting of US aid restrictions on Uzbekistan had anything to do with their increased reliance on northern supply routes for Nato forces after closure of ground routes from Pakistan, Kirby said that was unaware of any such linkage between the two. "Northern routes, however, continue to remain an important artery to sustain our operations in Afghnaistan", he said. "Pakistan is yet to officially notify us of any demands following the Nov 26 NATO attack report rejection (like seeking an apology or new tariff mechanism for NATO supplies)", he said responding to another query. On reconciliation efforts with Taliban and their demand for release of Guantanamo detainees, he said "I am not prepared to share details or comment on specifics of reconciliation efforts with Taliban". "We have made it clear that if it is Afghan-led, we will be interested in participation", he said detailing the official US position. "It will be premature to talk about any detainee transfer at this stage", he said but asserted that "we know and understand who we have in Guantanamo, what are their motivations and what were their previous activities". "We always make our utmost to ensure that they (detainees) can t go back to battlefield", he said when asked how dangerous these five detainees were and how could it be ensured that they don t go back to the battlefield from prison.  On the Congressional report raising concern over growing number of attacks by Taliban on Afghan national forces, he said that he had not seen the said report yet, but it would be too soon to say that it s an endemic or systemic issue. "It will be incorrect to say that there is huge infiltration of Afghan Natioanl Security Forces by the Taliban. Most operations jointly done by ISAF and Afghan Natioanl Security Forces are a success and are conducted without a problem", he observed. He stressed that such instances, however few and far between, were disconcerting and military commanders in both the US and Afghanistan were paying due attention to it.-- Contributed by Awais Saleem, Dunya News correspondent in Washington, DC