Taliban leaders live in style with drug money: US general

Washington: The top US general in Afghanistan General John Nicholson said on Tuesday that he had not seen a change in Pakistan’s support for militants so far, despite President Donald Trump taking a tougher line against Islamabad.

He also claimed that though the Taliban’s tactical-level commanders were in the field in Afghanistan, its senior leadership still resided in Pakistan.

Taliban leaders are living in comfort outside of the country with plenty of drug money while the rank and file fighters were dying in Afghanistan, CNN quoted him as saying. US officials have long been frustrated by what they see as Pak’s reluctance to act against groups that they believe exploit safe haven on Pakistani soil to launch attacks on neighbouring Afghanistan.

In August, Trump outlined a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, chastising Pakistan over its alleged support for Afghan militants.

He accused Pakistan of harbouring “agents of chaos” and providing safe havens to militant groups waging an insurgency against a US-backed government in Kabul. Pakistan has vehemently denied all such claims.

US official expressed hope that relations between the two countries could improve after a kidnapped US-Canadian couple and their three children were freed in Pakistan in October. The couple was abducted in neighbouring Afghanistan.