ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in Afghanistan Lt-Gen David Richards arrived here on Monday to discuss alleged support of the Taliban by the Inter-Services Intelligence.

“The matter of Taliban gaining strength in Pakistan and posing a threat to the UK-led Nato forces will come up for discussion during our meetings with President Pervez Musharraf and other officials,” a member of the Nato delegation told Dawn.

He said the organisation had substantial evidence about the ISI indirectly helping the Taliban.

He said there were also indications that Taliban leader Mullah Omar was in Pakistan.

An official confirmed that the Nato commander was due to meet President Musharraf on Tuesday. He also planned to meet military commanders during his two-day visit, the official said.

Lt-Gen Richards was received by General Headquarters Director-General Lt-Gen Arif Hayat.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam on Monday rejected as baseless the charge that Taliban were being indirectly helped by the ISI.

According to a document prepared by an official in the Defence Academy, a think tank linked to the UK defence ministry, the ISI indirectly backs terrorism by supporting religious parties in Pakistan.