Spain ? Western intelligence agencies have long suspected that elements of Pakistan’s spy service have aided the Taliban in Afghanistan, but a Spanish government report leaked to the media appears to be the first published assessment that spells out such cooperation.

The August 2005 report says Pakistan’s shadowy Inter-Services Intelligence agency helped the Taliban procure roadside bombs and may even have provided training and intelligence to the Taliban in camps set up on Pakistani soil.

The Pakistani agency, known as the ISI, planned to have the Taliban use the explosives “to assassinate high-ranking officials” in Afghanistan, the report said.

It also warned of possible advanced training camps in Pakistan “where the Taliban receive training, help and intelligence from the ISI and where they are also developing new kinds” of improvised explosive devices. The report said the Taliban had also been receiving help from al-Qaida.