ISI under heavy fire

Col Ghulam Sarwar (R)




It is a matter of deep concern that terrorists in Pakistan are on rampage these days and they are seen indulging in subversive activities almost on regular basis. In the process, their each of these operations leaves many people dead and injured. To worsen matters, US media and state functionaries, uncharitably accuse ISI officials of working in unison with a number of terrorist groups. In this context, recently The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, in their stories on Pakistan levelled serious charges on the ISI.




In addition, according to the "Times," the ISI has developed ties with all such militants groups that are currently fighting the international forces, including the U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Further , it is alleged that ISI offers them direct support in the form of money, military supplies and strategic planning.




According to the Paper, a number of senior U.S diplomats, military officers and intelligence officials had travelled over the last year to Islamabad. Their main purpose was to dissuade people from extending a helping hand to terror groups. Important persons connected with the Obama administration, Chairman Joints Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen had told a T.V Channel that the I.S.I. has been attached to many of these extreme organizations, and it was Mollans belief that in the long run, ISI shall have to sever its ties with the militants organizations in order to readily move in the right direction. A little earlier, addressing the Senate Foreign Relations Commander, Lt.Gen.Veral Eikenberry, the Obama administration's proposed ambassador to Kabul had assessed that the ISI had developed a very unclean, a very ambiguous relationship with the Taliban over the last 15 years . We are certain that this is a sheer distortion of facts and as such, it cannot stand the test of time.




In Pakistani circles, there is a general impression that the power -that-be in Islamabad have failed to remove the perception of ISI's hobnobbing with Taliban. This has caused a trust deficit between the two countries and as a result, instead of sharing information with the Pakistani agencies, the CIA has employed remote controlled drones attack positions inside. Pakistan. Despite several protests from Islamabad and condemnation by Parliament and media in Pakistan, these drone attacks are persistently playing havoc with the lives and properties of the tribal people, as the two incidents in south & north Waziristan on 25th & 26th March-2009 would indicate what Richard Hollmark had said early this week regarding Taliban sanctuaries in Balochistan including Quetta these activities indicate that drone attacks, confined so far to the FATA's might now be extended to Balochistan also. Any attack on targets in un-thickly populated Quetta or crowded refugee camps outside the city is bound to lead to civilian casualties on a large scale. It may be emphasized here that the prevailing lack of trust can harm the interests of both the U.S and Pakistan. There is a need to remove the perception about the ISI's alleged ties with militant groups. Similarly, Washington needs to ally Islamabad's concern that once more American forces withdraw, the power vacuum would be filled by India, a perception which forces to look for proxy forces in Afghanistan.




Incidentally, the ISPR has rejected as baseless and malafide the allegations that ISI had been backing Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. Responding to these allegations, the spokesman from ISPR said on 28th March-2009 that Pakistan's commitment to fighting terrorism could be judged from the sacrifices rendered by its security forces including intelligence agencies ISI's role in this regard is second to none and as such this organization deserves to be further patronized and consolidated.