WASHINGTON, March 3: In a rare endorsement of Pakistan’s position on the Taliban issue, a senior Nato commander has acknowledged that Afghan refugee camps are a “great source” of strength for the religious militia which is seeking to re-establish itself in Afghanistan.

Army Gen Bantz J. Craddock, Nato’s supreme allied commander for Europe, while briefing reporters in Washington, also urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to work together to beat the insurgency.

“Nato cannot prevail without greater control of the border areas with Pakistan and greater cooperation and coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he said.

The general conceded that Taliban insurgents were hiding among Afghanistan refugees because it was easy for them to do so.

“There are two million Afghan refugees in Pakistan and they are a great source of Taliban fighters because they don’t have any choice,” he said.

Gen Craddock also conceded that the United Nations and refugee agencies will have to be brought in to work a solution to the refugee problem.

Pakistan has long insisted that Taliban insurgents often hide among Afghan refugees in the NWFP and Balochistan.

Like other Afghans, they also carry refugee cards which allow them to move across the border and live and work on both sides of the Durand Line.

An estimated three million Afghan refugees live in Pakistan and Islamabad has proposed closing at least four major camps and repatriating those living there to Afghanistan.

While the Afghan government wants Pakistan to stop cross-border movement of Taliban insurgents, it is unwilling to accept the refugees, saying that it does not have the infrastructure to deal with the proposed repatriation of hundreds of thousands of people.