In early June, about 300 fighters of various jihadi groups gathered in Rawalpindi for a secret gathering and agreed to resolve their differences and commit more fighters to Afghanistan. "The message was that the jihad in Kashmir is still continuing but it is not the most important right now. Afghanistan is the fighting ground, against the Americans there," said Toor Gul, a leader of the militant group Hezbul Mujahideen. He said the groups in attendance had included the Al Qaeda-linked Jaish-e-Muhammad and the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Speaking on condition of anonymity, Pakistani military and European intelligence officials confirmed the meeting, with a senior military official describing it as "an intelligence failure".
Meanwhile, NATO spokesman Mark Laity expressed concern that the Pakistan government's peace deals with militants were leading to "increased cross border activity". However, Gul said that Mohmand and Bajaur agencies, in the country's northwest, were emerging as the strongest insurgent centres. Pakistani and Western officials corroborated his information.
A former minister in the previous government, requesting anonymity, confirmed this, saying that insurgents were being paid between Rs 6,000 and 8,000 a month in Mohmand. He claimed that the Pakistani military and intelligence services were aware of this.
Understanding:
| He said that under a tacit understanding with authorities, militants were free to cross to fight in Afghanistan so long as they did not stage attacks inside Pakistan. |
Denial: However, Pakistan's army vehemently denies giving covert aid to militants. "If anyone says the army is providing sanctuary, nothing could be further from the truth," army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said. He criticised the US and NATO forces for failing to capture insurgents when they cross into Afghanistan or stop them from coming into Pakistan. "Is it the responsibility of only one side to stop the border crossings?" he asked. Another senior government official said Pakistan has become the scapegoat for US and NATO failures in Afghanistan. He also denied that the army was helping militants.