Pakistan denies granting sanctuary to the Taliban

When Taliban militant Syed Azizullah died during fighting in southern Afghanistan, his body was sent to his native Pakistan where a provincial official gave a eulogy before hundreds of Pashtun tribesmen. A flag of the Islamist militia fluttered by the grave.

Pakistan strenuously denies granting sanctuary to the Taliban, yet their cause still finds succour among local Pashtuns and Islamic hard-liners, fuelling suspicions that jihadi leaders may be plotting their campaign of violence from south-western Pakistan, with militants crossing the long, porous border to launch attacks.