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Journalism of Courage
The recent reshuffle in Pakistan Army’s high command is seen as a move by President Musharraf to place loyalists in key positions before resigning as the Army Chief next month. However, the most important appointment —Director General of the powerful Inter Services Intelligence — has been reserved for possibly his staunchest supporter in the Pakistani Army, Lt Gen Nadeem Taj. And, his predecessor at the spy agency, Lt Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiani, is probable as the next Army Chief.
• What is the ISI?
The Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence was founded as Pakistan’s premier spy agency in 1948 due to the unsatisfactory performance of Pakistan Army’s Military Intelligence (MI) in the 1947-48 J&K war. The agency was initially tasked with handling external military and non-military intelligence with India being its primary focus. While it was not given responsibility for internal intelligence gathering in the early years, ISI was active in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and the Northern Areas of Gilgit and Baltistan.
• When did it become embroiled in domestic politics?
The role of ISI was expanded significantly in the 1950’s under President Ayub Khan’s reign and it was tasked with supporting military rule in the country. Subsequently, it became the primary agency coordinating intelligence for all three services and its tasks included counter espionage, interception of communications, surveillance over military and diplomat service personnel and launching covert operations.
• Who controls the ISI?
While successive governments have tried to rein-in the agency, the real control lies in the hands of the Army Chief. Musharraf has managed a tight control over the agency and even changed its chief Mahmoud Ahmad post-9/11 for his fundamentalist leanings.
• What has it ‘achieved’ in the past and what it is capable of?
After initial setbacks in the early 50’s, the agency created a Covert Action Division to assist insurgents in India’s North Eastern states by supplying guns and training cadres. The early 1970’s saw its active participation in supporting the Khalistan movement. Its highest point came in the form of Operation Topaz, a three pronged plan to fuel insurgency in J&K in the late 1980’s. Its active support continues till date and the agency runs several training camps in Pakistan, Bangladesh and some in Nepal.
• How important is the ISI chief?
The ISI chief has traditionally been a critical player in Pakistan’s domestic politics. Ex-PM Benazir Bhutto paid for meddling with the ISI by overruling the appointment of Lt Gen Hamid Gul’s successor for the post of DG in 1989. Analysts believe that her appointment of a retired officer close to her late father, Maj Gen (retd) SR Kallue, as the ISI head initiated her downfall the next year. Nawaz Sharif also tried to control the agency by appointing an officer of his choice as its head during his 1990-93 rule. The friction with the army resulted in the 1999 coup in Pakistan after Sharif overruled Musharraf’s choice for the post and appointed his loyalist Lt Gen Ziauddin.
Spymasters
Lieutenant General Hamid Gul 1987-89):
A powerful figure in Pakistan after the Soviet war in Afghanistan, Gul is known for instigating the J&K insurgency in 1989.
General Muhammad Aziz Khan:
As the deputy director of ISI under Nawaz Sharif in 1999, Khan was instrumental in bringing Musharraf to power. He was appointed as the deputy director by Musharraf in an effort to retain control over the ISI.
General Akhtar Abdur Rahman:
The long serving ISI chief in the 1980’s masterminded the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union with the active support of USA.
Lieutenant General Mahmoud Ahmad:
Appointed by Musharraf as the ISI chief after he took over power in 1999, Ahmad was very close to the Taliban leadership.
