New ISI DG Appointed

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Some more information on Gen. Shuja Pasha:

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha of Pakistan as the new Military Adviser, Department of Peacekeeping Operations. General Pasha succeeds acting Military Adviser General Per Arne Five of Norway.

For the last two years, General Pasha has served as the Director-General of Military Operations at the Central Headquarters of the Pakistani Army. In this position he has been in overall command of all Army operations inside Pakistan’s borders, as well as all peacekeeping deployments.

Prior to this posting, General Pasha has had a distinguished 30-plus year career in the Pakistani Army. He has commanded an infantry division, a mechanized infantry brigade, an infantry battalion and has served as the Chief Instructor of the Command and Staff College of the Pakistani Army. From 2001-2002, General Pasha also served as a Contingent and Sector Commander with UNAMSIL, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. In this position, he was responsible for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former rebel groups.

General Pasha, born in 1952, is married and has three children.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS LIEUTENANT GENERAL AHMAD SHUJA PASHA OF PAKISTAN AS MILITARY ADVISER, DEPARTMENT OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

 

[Neo]

Lieutenant General Ahmed Shujaa new ISI chief​

RAWALPINDI (September 30 2008): In a major reshuffle in Pakistan Army, many appointments and postings have been made on Monday, with Lieutenant General Ahmed Shujaa Pasha replacing Lieutenant General Nadeem Taj as Director General (DG) Inter Services Intelligence (ISI.), while seven Major Generals of Pakistan Army have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.

According to an ISPR release, Lieutenant General Raza Muhammad Corps Commander Bahwalpur has been appointed DG JS at JSHQ. Lieutenant General Muhammad Yousaf as Corps Commander Bahwalpur, Lieutenant General Ahsan Azhar Hyat, Corps Commander Karachi as IGT&E at GHQ, while Lieutenant General Shahid Iqbal has been appointed as Corps Commander Karachi.

Lieutenant General Muhammad Zaki has been appointed as IG Arms at GHQ, Lieutenant General Javed Zia as QMG at GHQ, Lieutenant General Nadeem Taj as Corps Commander Gujranwala, Lieutenant General Mohsin Kamal as MS at GHQ, Lieutenant General Tahir Mahmud as Corps Commander Rawalpindi, Lieutenant General Muhammad Zahid as Adjutant General at GHQ, Lieutenant General Ahmed Shujaa Pasha as DG ISI, Lieutenant General Muhammad Mustafa as CGS at GHQ, Lieutenant General Tanvir Tahir as IG Communication and IT at GHQ and Lieutenant General Ayyaz Salim Rana has been appointed as Chairman HIT.

The seven Major Generals, who have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General are; Tapir Mahmood (Infantry), Shahid Iqbal (Infantry), Tanner Tapir (EME), Sahib Hussain (Artillery), Ahmad Shuja Pasha (Infantry), Mohammad Mustafa Khan (Armoured Corps) and Major-General Ayaz Saleem Rana (Armoured Corps).

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I think Gen kyani has made some very astute decisions in bringing in some highly competent people to the fore. I suspect he has wanted to make these decisions for some time, and has been deliberating upon it. The American "pressure" seems to be a perfect excuse for him to bring this reshuffle now. I don't think this reshuffle will in anyway effect the operational capacity or directions of the ISI, but it wouldn't hurt for the Americans to believe so.

Indeed.

We should remember what Adm. Mullen stated in his press conference after the CVBG meeting - that Gen. Kiyani had conveyed to him a certain road map he was following, and that in Adm. Mullen's view, during the course of his meetings, Gen. Kiyani had shown that he was progressing on that course.

 

[DarkStar]

Sometimes one has to marvel at the minds in our military. I think some of our top Generals could better trained diplomats and politicians at their own game.

It's about time the civilian govt. thought about sub contracting major operations to the army. I'm thinking of diplomacy, foreign affairs, maybe even economic affairs. To do what the military has done on a shoe string budget (compared to our rivals budget these days) and maintain an quilibrium deterrent is nothing short of a miracle and must be admired by all.

 

[Neo]

Who is this new guy, do we have a profile yet?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Sometimes one has to marvel at the minds in our military. I think some of our top Generals could better trained diplomats and politicians at their own game.

It's about time the civilian govt. thought about sub contracting major operations to the army. I'm thinking of diplomacy, foreign affairs, maybe even economic affairs. To do what the military has done on a shoe string budget (compared to our rivals budget these days) and maintain an quilibrium deterrent is nothing short of a miracle and must be admired by all.

Oh please no!

Let the military focus on what it does best.

There is plenty of talent in the Pakistan civil services if handled properly. The foreign service officers are excellent, as are many in the other departments. Cronyism and a lack of autonomy and freedom in promoting talented officers, and posting them based on connections rather than merit is what leads to mediocrity and sometimes failure.

Look at the replacement for Munir Akram as the perm. representative to the UN for example - a man with no diplomatic experience as far as I can tell, whereas Akram was a highly respected member of the foreign service and did an excellent job for Pakistan at the UN.

 

[Neo]

Indeed.

We should remember what Adm. Mullen stated in his press conference after the CVBG meeting - that Gen. Kiyani had conveyed to him a certain road map he was following, and that in Adm. Mullen's view, during the course of his meetings, Gen. Kiyani had shown that he was progressing on that course.

Exactly my thoughts. The meeting at CVBG, well outside ISI's radar, was largely interpretted as a writing on the wall for ISI within the defence analysts group.
I can assure you that the choice had been made there and the new guy is a moderate one.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Who is this new guy, do we have a profile yet?

I posted some information in posts 31 and 29.

He seems a highly competent officer.

Did you want to condense the two into a proper profile?

 

[DarkStar]

You're right... Got a bit carried away with the jingoistic feelings welling up inside.

I agree with what you are saying. Highly qualified people are being left out of the civil services. REcently a veritable genius friend of our family, who had A grades since school, senior cambridge, graduation, and even got into the top ten position in terms of CSS marks, was rejected at her interview due to a lack of english. And her english is better than most english people, which i can vouch for having been brought up and studying in England. To top it off, she is the daughter of a recently retired army general. Rejected flat out.
She's so dejected she's turned to journalism.

As for the new Ambassador to the UN. He scored a great own goal. the Coffee Club (Pakistan, ARgentina, Italy) which had for years stopped the Indian,BRazilian, Japanese, German attempt to get a permanent seat on the security council, largely due to the diplomatic skills of the previous pakistani ambasaddor was let down by the newly appointed pakistani ambassador. He did not turn up for key meetings, and in his absence the opposition got enough votes to push through their agenda. This mistake is something we may live to regret, paving the way for the above mentioned countries to get a un security council permanent seat. Shame on this incompetence.

 

[Neo]

Some more information on Gen. Shuja Pasha:

"United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha of Pakistan as the new Military Adviser, Department of Peacekeeping Operations. General Pasha succeeds acting Military Adviser General Per Arne Five of Norway.

For the last two years, General Pasha has served as the Director-General of Military Operations at the Central Headquarters of the Pakistani Army. In this position he has been in overall command of all Army operations inside Pakistan’s borders, as well as all peacekeeping deployments.

Prior to this posting, General Pasha has had a distinguished 30-plus year career in the Pakistani Army. He has commanded an infantry division, a mechanized infantry brigade, an infantry battalion and has served as the Chief Instructor of the Command and Staff College of the Pakistani Army. From 2001-2002, General Pasha also served as a Contingent and Sector Commander with UNAMSIL, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. In this position, he was responsible for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former rebel groups.

General Pasha, born in 1952, is married and has three children."

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS LIEUTENANT GENERAL AHMAD SHUJA PASHA OF PAKISTAN AS MILITARY ADVISER, DEPARTMENT OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

I think we need to calm down.

The PM is well within his rights to appoint a DG ISI of his choice. The man replacing him by all means seems an extremely competent and respected individual, and in no way does this compromise Pakistan's national security interests. I still do not see why Gen. Taj would be a controversial figure, but again, he may not be, and the change is to show that 'something is being done'.

Could this have been done either at the behest of the US or to placate it? Entirely possible, but if it does address US concerns while not compromising our own interests, then there does not seem much wrong here.

Major reshuffle in Pakistan Army, DG ISI changed​

By Iftikhar A. Khan
Tuesday, 30 Sep, 2008 | 12:56 AM PST |

ISLAMABAD: In a major reshuffle in the army’s top command, the chief of army staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Monday brought in a new head of the all-powerful Inter-services Intelligence (ISI), changed four of the nine corps commanders, and appointed a new chief of general staff, besides giving key postings to a few others.

The shake-up is the most wide-ranging since General Kayani took over as the COAS and perhaps even more significant since former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf stepped down as the country’s controversial president.

The move came within hours of the promotion of seven major generals to the rank of three-star lieutenant generals, with a number of them becoming the direct beneficiaries of the reshuffle.

Perhaps the most surprising of all such changes has been the appointed of Lt. General Ahmed Shujja Pasha as the new director general of ISI. He has replaced Lt. General Nadeem Taj, who has been appointed commander of 30 Corps in Gujranwala.

A highly professional soldier in his own right, Lt. General Pasha has, for the last two years, been overseeing the ongoing security operation in the tribal areas and parts of NWFP.

In his capacity as the director general military operations (DGMO) he had been directly responsible for the launching and execution of all the major security strikes in FATA and Swat, the latest being the major onslaught against religious extremists in the Bajaur tribal agency.

But he is not the only beneficiary of Monday’s promotions and reshuffle carried out by General Kayani who, many believe, has put in place a new team to implement his vision for reviving the prestige of the armed forces and for enhancing the security of the state.

Some of the other significant appointees are former SSG commander Lt. General Tahir Mahmood, who has been given the most crucial 10 Corps in Rawalpind; Lt. General Shahid Iqbal, who has been made commander of the 5 corps in Karachi; and Lt. General Mohammad Yusuf, who has been given 31 corps in Bhawalpur.

Lt. General Mustafa has been appointed as the Chief of General Staff, who will replace the incumbent Lt. General Salahuddin Satti.

According to an announcement by the ISPR, the Corps Commanders of Rawalpindi, Karachi, Bahawalpur and Gujranwala have been changed.

The reshuffle in the Pakistan Army is being seen by observers as highly significant in the backdrop of stepped up US incursions inside Pakistan’s territory and an unusual statement by the Army Chief declaring that violation of the country’s sovereignty would not be allowed at any cost.

Some observers have pointed out that the ISI Chief has been changed for the first time after the abortive attempt through a controversial notification to place the intelligence agency under the administrative, financial and operational control of the Interior Ministry.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Reshuffle in Pakistan Army DG ISI changed

Thanks mate!

 

[dr.umer]

View attachment a02b04a78bc54297bbddb55c1d4d53d9.jpg​

From left, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Scott Van Buskirk spoke with Pakistani Army Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, chief of army staff, and Pakistani Army Major Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha, former director general of military operations and now DG ISI, on the flight deck aboard USS Abraham Lincoln in the North Arabian Sea.

 

[blain2]

Lt Gen Shujaa Pasha has been around some interesting roles. Lt Gen Nadeem Taj is a very capable officer as well. A few key things that come out as pros for Pasha include:

- Commandant & chief Instructor, Staff College Quetta. This is no mean feat. You have to be amongst the Army's most intellectually and professionally capable officers to become the Chief Instructor. Its usually a very good indication when you get appointed to something like this. Then he goes off to UN duties.

- Director General Military Operations. The DGMO in both the Pakistan and Indian Armies is considered a very crucial post. Only the best get appointed to these posts. So all in all he has had a pretty good career in the Army. No doubt he is a very capable officer.

Somebody here was saying that Army should impart diplomatic training etc. Well the Armed Forces do this but in a particular flavour. There are regular National Security Workshops offered to politicians and policy makers in the government by the National Defence University (NDU) where they take these people around to show them what the imperatives for the national security are. Interestingly enough, there was one recent conference with similar folks invited, and Maj Gen Shujaa Pasha being the DGMO gave them a presentation.

Rawalpindi, August 06: Participants of National Security Workshop – Eight, being held at National Defence University visited General Headquarters today.
During the visit, participants were given a briefing on “Pakistan Army, Challenges and Response” by Major General, Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Director General Military Operations.
It may be mentioned here that the National Security Workshop has been organized by the National Defence University to study the national security perspective, concepts, policies and strategies in today’s globalized world. The purpose of workshop is to make the participants aware of the elements which constitute national power. The workshop will examine the evolution of strategic thought, geo-political concepts and geo-strategic determents. It will also cover aspects of geo-political leadership and decision making to assist policy makers in making well informed choices.
The National Security Workshop is being attended by Parliamentarians, Senior Armed Forces Officers, DMG Officials, Ambassadors (designate) Industrialists, Lawyers and Media Representatives.

Here is a picture
Maj Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha standing behind Lt Gen Salahuddin Satti (CGS) and Commandant NDU.

 

[dr.umer]

Pakistan's New Spy Chief Raises Concern About Loyalty To US​

September 30, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan named a new head of its main intelligence service, a change sure to be scrutinized by American officials who have questioned the powerful spy agency's loyalties in the war on terror.

Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, the new chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, oversaw military offensives against militants in Pakistan's restive northwest tribal areas in his most recent job as director general of military operations.

Pakistani intelligence helped create the Taliban. U.S. intelligence agencies suspect rogue ISI elements may still be giving the Taliban sensitive information to aid militants in their growing insurgency in Afghanistan, even though officially, Pakistan is a U.S. ally in fighting terrorism.

There are lingering suspicions that elements in the ISI may want to retain the Taliban as assets against longtime rival India. India, Afghanistan _ and reportedly the U.S. _ suspect the ISI of involvement in the July 7 bombing outside India's Embassy in Kabul, which killed more than 60 people.

Pakistan denies the allegations.

Pasha will be pivotal in joint U.S.-Pakistani efforts to locate al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, believed to be hiding somewhere along the Afghan-Pakistan border in the lawless, tribal areas.

Urbane and apparently at ease with foreign reporters, Pasha has acknowledged the price Pakistan was paying for its past sponsorship of radical Islam.

"We pumped in millions of dollars for establishing it, and now we are up against it," he said in a media briefing in November.

At the same time, Pasha expressed skepticism about Washington's policies in the war on terror. Asked whether the U.S. understood militancy in the region, he replied: "Brute use of force" killed too many civilians and stoked extremism.

Pasha's appointment was the most important of several changes in a major shake-up of military leadership by army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Military analyst Talat Masood said the changes appeared to be an effort by Kayani _ who succeeded former President Pervez Musharraf as army chief and previously headed the ISI himself _ to consolidate his control over the military.

In July, the Pakistani government reportedly tried to bring the ISI under the control of the Interior Ministry, but quickly reversed the decision apparently after military dissent.

Pasha has also commanded troops for the U.N. mission to Sierra Leone in 2001-2002 and was appointed last year by the world body as an adviser on peacekeeping operations.

He replaces Lt. Gen. Nadeem Taj, who was in the position for about a year after being appointed by Musharraf. Taj was a close Musharraf aide, including during his 1999 coup.

Pakistan has spent about half of its 61-year history under army rule, but Kayani has indicated he wants to keep the military out of politics and rehabilitate its image after Musharraf's nine-year rule.

___

Associated Press Writers Munir Ahmad and Stephen Graham contributed to this report.

 

[dr.umer]

Western Media will keep on raising concerns as "big game" will keep on being played.

 

[blain2]

After reading a totally stupid headline like "Pakistan's New Spy Chief Raises Concern About Loyalty To US", I have one reaction only and it is to tell those with concern to piss off! He owes his loyalty to Pakistan first and foremost. Koi in kay naukar nahi lagay huai kay pehlay jaakar inkay haath per bait lain. These Pakistani/western journalists and their screwed up journalism should be blasted left and right. Bloody jokers!

Only some juicy Punjabi/Urdu "gaalian" would have expressed my exact sentiments here..but out of deference for the holy month, I will desist.