The Times reports that the Pakistani Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), a powerful intelligence service which fueled the Taliban's rise to power, aided a terrorist bombing at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan last month. The bombing killed 54 people, one of whom was an Indian diplomat.
In part because of the historical connection between the Taliban and ISI; in part because of the relative autonomy enjoyed by Taliban-affiliated militants in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas; in part because of the AQ Khan situation; in part because of polls showing Bin Laden's high popularity in Pakistan; and in part because of statements made by Pakistani government officials, there have always been concerns about Pakistan's reliability as an ally in the fight against terrorism.
Worse yet, the public revelation comes on the heels of skirmishes between the Pakistani and Indian militaries in Kashmir. Increased tension will make a difficult diplomatic situation far, far more dangerous.
Perhaps worst, the Times reports that the CIA concluded that ISI was involved based on a wide variety of communications between ISI and Taliban-affiliated terrorist groups. The actual damage ISI is doing to the American campaign in Afghanistan – in compromised agents, compromised operations, and false or compromised intelligence – will probably be unknown for some time.
Finally, as the Times notes, the attack re-raises questions about who is in control of Pakistan's intelligence and security apparatuses. The domestic political ramifications, at this point, are as unclear as the implications for Pakistan's bilateral relations with the United States and India, or the American campaign in Aghanistan and West Pakistan.
