Army mulls legal action over BBC report

RAWALPINDI (Agencies) Pakistan military strongly denied Thursday a BBC report that alleged the Pakistani military, along with its intelligence arm, supplied and protected the Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda. A number of middle-ranking Taliban commanders detailed what they said was extensive Pakistani support in interviews for a BBC Two documentary series, the first part of which was broadcast Wednesday. We consider that this report is highly biased, it is one-sided, it doesnt have the version of the side which is badly hit or affected by this report, Major General Athar Abbas, spokesman for the military, told Reuters. So therefore, other than that, its factually incorrect. He said the head of Pakistans spy agency, the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had already said not a single bullet or financial support had been given to groups named in the BBC report. Abbas said the number of attacks against the ISI by the Pakistani Taliban - about 300 ISI officials have been killed in bombings - was proof the ISI did not support militants. Meanwhile, talking a private TV channel, Abbas said the Army reserved the right to take legal action over the report.

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