KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, says while the insurgency there is mostly Afghan, it is supported from Pakistan.
The general's assessment on the insurgency is contained in his overall confidential assessment report, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post. The three main insurgency groups in Afghanistan, identified by McChrystal, are the Quetta Shura Taliban, operating from the Pakistani city of Quetta, the Haqqani network, closely associated with al-Qaida and Pakistan-based insurgent groups and the Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin, which has bases both in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"Senior leaders of the major Afghan insurgent groups are based in Pakistan, are linked with al-Qaida and other violent extremist groups, and are reportedly aided by some elements of Pakistan's ISI," the report said. The ISI is Pakistan's intelligence service.
The general's report said al-Qaida and other extremist movements "based in Pakistan channel foreign fighters, suicide bombers, and technical assistance into Afghanistan, and offer ideological motivation, training, and financial support."
