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The World’s Matthew Bell reports that the reported capture of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Baradar could signal increased cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.

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KATY CLARK:  More now on what Mullah Baradar’s reported capture could mean for the U.S. relationship with Pakistan.  The government of Pakistan ended its official support for the Afghan Taliban about eight years ago.  The U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan prompted that move.  Since then the presence of Taliban leaders in Pakistan has complicated an already ambiguous relationship.  The World’s Matthew Bell has more.

MATTHEW BELL:  When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with the BBC today she said she could not confirm Baradar’s capture, but Clinton was quick to highlight what she described as increasing cooperation between Washington and Islamabad, particularly when it comes to combating violent extremists active inside Pakistan.

HILLARY CLINTON:  We’ve seen the indiscriminate killings that have been conducted over the last several months.  Horrific bombings that have been just hard to even believe.  Bombing religious processions and Mosques and people playing volleyball and women and children in markets, but I think the Pakistanis, across the board in their leadership recognize that standing firm against this threat is important to their future.

BELL: Starting in 2005 U.S. officials tried to get more cooperation from the Pakistani military and intelligence service.  Washington wanted Pakistanis to crack down on Afghan Taliban leaders based inside Pakistan, especially in the city of Quetta.  That’s according to South Asia expert Christine Fair of Georgetown University.

CHRISTINE FAIR:  The Taliban leadership, the Quetta Sura had been free to roam around, not only in Quetta, but in other places like Karachi for quite some time.

BELL: The relationship between Pakistan’s intelligence agency and the Afghan Taliban goes back a long way and it’s got a lot to do with Pakistan’s rivalry with India.  The Taliban have been seen by Pakistani intelligence as a potential asset to blunt Indian influence next door in Afghanistan.  Christine Fair says that’s what makes the reports of the capture of Taliban leader, Mullah Baradar, by a joint U.S./Pakistan operation so significant.

FAIR:  If, in fact, this is the case, this is extraordinary especially if it took place with, as the reporting suggests, ISI cooperation.  That is the external intelligence agency that was largely responsible for assisting the Taliban during much of its ascent and the time during which it ran Afghanistan.

BELL: Fair says she has her doubts about the willingness of Pakistan’s intelligence agency to completely break with the Afghan Taliban, but she says Pakistan might have decided it can get something from the U.S. in return for neutralizing one of the Taliban’s top commanders.

FAIR:  In point of fact, what you’re getting in the end is perhaps greater influence over the south of Afghanistan, which is what Pakistan wants anyway.  The Indians have been able to build up a presence there.  This is very disconcerting to the Pakistanis.  So ultimately what they want is just to ensure that in areas that are most sensitive to Pakistani interests that the Indians aren’t there.  And so it’s entirely possible that what this really reflects is not only movement from the Pakistani side, but also movement from the American side.  That’s entirely possible, albeit obviously very speculative.  But I find it very difficult to believe that simply threats alone, without some pretty serious carrots being offered to the Pakistanis would compel them to do this.

BELL: At the same time, Fair says the Afghan government wants to reconcile with some Taliban leaders and that may fit into the overall U.S. strategy as well.  Even as the Pentagon continues a major military offensive in southern Afghanistan.  South Asia expert Terresita Schaffer is with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.  She says the U.S. and its partners are trying to do two things in the region.

TERRESITA SCHAFFER:   Trying to create a sense of momentum militarily and also trying to create the, lay the groundwork for a political solution.

BELL: Schaffer says U.S. officials have been exploring how Pakistan could help on both counts and if confirmed, the reported capture of Mullah Baradar might signal a new level of cooperation.  For The World, I’m Matthew Bell.

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