145;Musharraf failed to tackle Taliban146;

In January 2000, it said Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth and the State Department8217;s counter-terrorism coordinator, Michael Sheehan, met Musharraf and asked for his cooperation in persuading Taliban leader Mullah Omar to expel Osama bin Laden. However, Pakistan was unlikely to do anything, 8216;8216;given that it sees there to be benefits in the Taliban control of Afghanistan,8217;8217; the report quoted both officials as saying.

While conceding that Pakistan8217;s intelligence service 8216;8216;was in bed with Osama bin Laden8217;8217;, the Commission recommended that the US give Pakistan long-term aid. 8220;The US should support Pakistan8217;s government in its struggle against extremists with a comprehensive effort8230;so long as Pakistan8217;s leaders remain willing to make difficult choices of their own,8217;8217; the report said.