New ISI DG Appointed

[metalfalcon]

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!

Now thats like a more GHAYRAT MUND PAKISTANI.

DG of ISI and ISI must be loyal to PAKISTAN , why the hell we need American permission or Approval for such a institution which is the first line of defence for Pakistan.

 

[Neo]

Welcome change of guard at ISI​

In a “major” reshuffle in the Pakistan Army, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Nadeem Taj has been replaced by newly promoted Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha. The change of guard at the ISI will attract attention because it formally required the approval of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani under whose constitutional tutelage the country’s top spy agency is formally supposed to function. If Mr Gilani had so wished, Gen Taj would have continued to remain in place. But this hasn’t happened because COAS Gen Ashfaq Kayani wanted it otherwise and the PM had no objection. Gen Taj’s move to the Gujranwala corps, however, is important for his career and will not be viewed negatively. The move is interesting because Prime Minister Gilani has been critical of the intelligence establishment of the country in general. He had made an attempt — unsuccessfully — to put the ISI under the Interior Ministry. However, after the Marriott Hotel blast on September 20, he had reason to complain once again, which added to the general public objection to the effectiveness of the intelligence agencies against terrorism in the country, which seemed to have a free hand in choosing and executing its targets. Above all, it was embarrassing that employees belonging to the ISI were attacked and killed repeatedly in Rawalpindi.

It would, however, be wrong to attribute this change to objections raised in Washington against the “double face” of the ISI, even if the change of the top man in the ISI will probably be looked at with favour by the US. The change should not normally be viewed as change of policy, but the exit of General Taj will be seen in some circles as a prelude to change of policy in the agency. Changes of personnel have taken place in the past. General Musharraf had announced during his tenure as army chief that purges had been carried out in the ISI to ensure observance of the changes of policy he had initiated after 9/11.

The US administration should normally have no basis for commenting on an institution created by the parliament in Pakistan, but comment did come on the basis of Pakistan’s commitment to war against terror. The plaint was indirect and it pertained to the leaking of information that the NATO-ISAF command in Afghanistan shared with Islamabad in respect of the planned attacks on the centres of Al Qaeda terrorists in the Tribal Areas. The implication was that the ISI was protecting the elements it was committed to fight. The reaction in Pakistan was understandable. Public support to the ISI increased and the American objection was rejected.

There is also reason to believe that the PPP cannot be too fond of the ISI as an institution. Past history clearly indicates improper use of the agency made by an establishment suspicious of the worldview of the PPP. Its leadership has been hounded by the improperly politicised officers of the ISI, starting from maltreatment received by the founder of the party, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and ending with its martyred leader Ms Benazir Bhutto, who actually accused members of the ISI of plotting her assassination. In her memoir she clearly hints at receiving inside information from the ISI revealing plans to harm her if she returned to Pakistan from her exile.

The ISI was misused during the sad years of the 1990s when the two mainstream parties, the PML and the PPP, were locked in a life and death struggle for power. The most embarrassing moment came when functionaries of the ISI were caught red-handed trying to overthrow the government of Ms Bhutto and had to be removed from service. It is in fact the ISI which is which is largely responsible for the general impression in Pakistan that the army doesn’t like the PPP as a party, a dangerous impression nurtured in Sindh pointing to the Punjabi prejudice against the smaller provinces. Intercepts of General Musharraf’s telephone conversations conveyed this message quite clearly; and General Nadeem Taj was known to be a protégé of General Musharraf.

There is no disagreeing with the general plaint about lack of counter-intelligence in Pakistan. While the ISI is vigilant about India and reacts swiftly to any moves made by it to harm the security of Pakistan, its ability to intercept and interdict moves by the terrorists — resulting in the death of a large number of people — remains limited if not suspiciously defective. This has led many to assess the ISI negatively, accusing it of not letting go of the former proxy elements it nurtured who have turned against Pakistan and are killing innocent citizens. Also, the ISI needs to work towards removing the general tendency of Pakistanis to hold the ISI responsible for bombings that are clearly the work of the enemy.

There are two points of note in this change of command. One, the new DG ISI is handpicked by COAS General Ashfaq Kayani, and not by PM Gilani. He was DGMO in charge of the anti-terrorist operations in FATA and directly responsible for implementing the policy of the COAS there, first under General Musharraf and then under General Kayani. He was scheduled to retire but has instead been promoted, indicating the degree of trust he now enjoys with COAS Kayani. Two, Maj-Gen Nusrat Naeem, who was DG-Counter-Intelligence, the number two position in the agency, has also been promoted and replaced by another hand-picked Kayani man, Maj-Gen Zahir-ul-Islam, who was GOC Murree. Significantly, neither the PM nor President Asif Zardari has tried to influence General Kayani’s choice, indicating a welcome degree of trust between the new military and new political leadership. This is also noteworthy because of the PPP’s earlier attempt to bring the ISI under the control of the interior ministry. Clearly, under Gen Pasha, the ISI will be retooled to deal with the internal threat to the state from terrorism in FATA. This is great news. *

 

[batmannow]

Welcome change of guard at ISI​

In a “major” reshuffle in the Pakistan Army, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Nadeem Taj has been replaced by newly promoted Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha. The change of guard at the ISI will attract attention because it formally required the approval of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani under whose constitutional tutelage the country’s top spy agency is formally supposed to function. If Mr Gilani had so wished, Gen Taj would have continued to remain in place. But this hasn’t happened because COAS Gen Ashfaq Kayani wanted it otherwise and the PM had no objection. Gen Taj’s move to the Gujranwala corps, however, is important for his career and will not be viewed negatively. The move is interesting because Prime Minister Gilani has been critical of the intelligence establishment of the country in general. He had made an attempt — unsuccessfully — to put the ISI under the Interior Ministry. However, after the Marriott Hotel blast on September 20, he had reason to complain once again, which added to the general public objection to the effectiveness of the intelligence agencies against terrorism in the country, which seemed to have a free hand in choosing and executing its targets. Above all, it was embarrassing that employees belonging to the ISI were attacked and killed repeatedly in Rawalpindi.

It would, however, be wrong to attribute this change to objections raised in Washington against the “double face” of the ISI, even if the change of the top man in the ISI will probably be looked at with favour by the US. The change should not normally be viewed as change of policy, but the exit of General Taj will be seen in some circles as a prelude to change of policy in the agency. Changes of personnel have taken place in the past. General Musharraf had announced during his tenure as army chief that purges had been carried out in the ISI to ensure observance of the changes of policy he had initiated after 9/11.

The US administration should normally have no basis for commenting on an institution created by the parliament in Pakistan, but comment did come on the basis of Pakistan’s commitment to war against terror. The plaint was indirect and it pertained to the leaking of information that the NATO-ISAF command in Afghanistan shared with Islamabad in respect of the planned attacks on the centres of Al Qaeda terrorists in the Tribal Areas. The implication was that the ISI was protecting the elements it was committed to fight. The reaction in Pakistan was understandable. Public support to the ISI increased and the American objection was rejected.

There is also reason to believe that the PPP cannot be too fond of the ISI as an institution. Past history clearly indicates improper use of the agency made by an establishment suspicious of the worldview of the PPP. Its leadership has been hounded by the improperly politicised officers of the ISI, starting from maltreatment received by the founder of the party, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and ending with its martyred leader Ms Benazir Bhutto, who actually accused members of the ISI of plotting her assassination. In her memoir she clearly hints at receiving inside information from the ISI revealing plans to harm her if she returned to Pakistan from her exile.

The ISI was misused during the sad years of the 1990s when the two mainstream parties, the PML and the PPP, were locked in a life and death struggle for power. The most embarrassing moment came when functionaries of the ISI were caught red-handed trying to overthrow the government of Ms Bhutto and had to be removed from service. It is in fact the ISI which is which is largely responsible for the general impression in Pakistan that the army doesn’t like the PPP as a party, a dangerous impression nurtured in Sindh pointing to the Punjabi prejudice against the smaller provinces. Intercepts of General Musharraf’s telephone conversations conveyed this message quite clearly; and General Nadeem Taj was known to be a protégé of General Musharraf.

There is no disagreeing with the general plaint about lack of counter-intelligence in Pakistan. While the ISI is vigilant about India and reacts swiftly to any moves made by it to harm the security of Pakistan, its ability to intercept and interdict moves by the terrorists — resulting in the death of a large number of people — remains limited if not suspiciously defective. This has led many to assess the ISI negatively, accusing it of not letting go of the former proxy elements it nurtured who have turned against Pakistan and are killing innocent citizens. Also, the ISI needs to work towards removing the general tendency of Pakistanis to hold the ISI responsible for bombings that are clearly the work of the enemy.

There are two points of note in this change of command. One, the new DG ISI is handpicked by COAS General Ashfaq Kayani, and not by PM Gilani. He was DGMO in charge of the anti-terrorist operations in FATA and directly responsible for implementing the policy of the COAS there, first under General Musharraf and then under General Kayani. He was scheduled to retire but has instead been promoted, indicating the degree of trust he now enjoys with COAS Kayani. Two, Maj-Gen Nusrat Naeem, who was DG-Counter-Intelligence, the number two position in the agency, has also been promoted and replaced by another hand-picked Kayani man, Maj-Gen Zahir-ul-Islam, who was GOC Murree. Significantly, neither the PM nor President Asif Zardari has tried to influence General Kayani’s choice, indicating a welcome degree of trust between the new military and new political leadership. This is also noteworthy because of the PPP’s earlier attempt to bring the ISI under the control of the interior ministry. Clearly, under Gen Pasha, the ISI will be retooled to deal with the internal threat to the state from terrorism in FATA. This is great news. *

US drone strike kills eight militants in Pakistan: officials


MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (AFP) - A missile fired by a suspected US drone hit a house in a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan, killing at least eight Islamist militants, mainly Arabs, officials said Wednesday.

The overnight attack was the latest in a string of incidents on the rugged frontier that have raised tensions between Islamabad and Washington, including a recent clash between Pakistani troops and US-led forces in Afghanistan.
The strike happened shortly after Pashtun tribesmen shot at three drones circling the village of Khusali Toorikhel in North Waziristan, a known haunt of Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants, security and administration officials said.

"After the drones came under fire a missile hit a house in the village," a local security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.


NO, official reactions,

It would, however, be wrong to attribute this change to objections raised in Washington against the “double face” of the ISI, even if the change of the top man in the ISI will probably be looked at with favour by the US.

The move is interesting because Prime Minister Gilani has been critical of the intelligence establishment of the country in general. He had made an attempt — unsuccessfully — to put the ISI under the Interior Ministry.
in the end, gen.kiyani bows to USA?
lets see, what effect it will bring, in war of terror against pakistani tribes man.



US to boost Pakistan’s anti-terror capability
By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Sept 30: The United States has assured Pakistan that it supports the country’s ‘sovereignty’ and ‘territorial integrity’ amid tensions between the two allies over cross-border raids into Fata.
The US assurance — included in a joint statement — followed talks in Washington on Monday between US and Pakistani teams aimed at consolidating a long-term relationship between the two nations.

During the talks “the United States affirmed its support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity”, said the statement issued by the US State Department.

The talks between US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi were part of what is called the ‘elevated strategic dialogue’ between the two countries.

The talks focussed on security cooperation, defence ties, the war on terror and economic assistance to Pakistan, particularly for creating jobs in the restive tribal region.

“The United States is dedicated to providing Pakistan with the training and equipment it needs to fight terrorism, including support to enhance Pakistan’s counterinsurgency and counterterrorism capabilities and increased cooperation with Pakistani security forces,” the statement said.

The talks were held against the backdrop of cross-border attacks by the US-led coalition forces in Fata. Although aimed at suspected terrorist hideouts, the raids also killed scores of civilians, forcing Islamabad to protest the incursions.

After a raid by US ground troops early this month, Pakistan warned that its troops would retaliate if they saw foreign troops crossing its border. Last week, Pakistani troops reportedly fired warning shots at a US helicopter trying to enter Pakistan. The incursions also led to demands by Pakistani opposition parties to seek assurance from the United States that it would respect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the joint statement addresses this issue.

But while assuring Pakistan to respect its territorial integrity, the United States also made it clear that it expected Islamabad to play an effective role in

fighting terrorism.

The two sides renewed their intention to work together to combat the threat of terrorism and violent extremism by expanding security cooperation. They also vowed to work together to develop and modernise the tribal belt.

Mr Qureshi and Mr Negroponte reaffirmed their commitment to a wide-ranging, substantive and long-term strategic partnership between Pakistan and the United States, the statement said.

The two sides also condemned the Sept 20 suicide bombing on Marriott Hotel in Islamabad which killed 53 people.

“They acknowledged that terrorism and violent extremism pose a common threat to Pakistan, the United States, and the international community.”

The strategic dialogue followed a decision in March 2006 to establish a forum for such talks. The dialogue was initially featured once a year but later the frequency was increased to twice a year. The first round took place in April 2006 in Washington.

During Monday’s meeting, the United States called for resumption of the Jirga process with Afghanistan and for Pakistan’s commitment to hold the next Regional Economic Cooperation Conference meeting in Islamabad later this year.

The Pakistani government expressed its appreciation for the US-backed new Friends of Pakistan initiative, which would help Pakistan face its challenges in the years ahead.

Building on the August 2008 bilateral economic dialogue, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to increased economic cooperation. Pakistan outlined its economic stabilization measures and reforms to foster economic growth and opportunity. The US expressed support for Pakistan’s plan to stabilise its economy and welcomed Pakistan’s commitment to implement comprehensive reform measures.

The US expressed its determination to continue efforts to promote Reconstruction Opportunity Zones legislation, currently pending in Congress. The establishment of such zones would improve stability and security by stimulating jobs, infrastructure and legitimate economic alternatives in underdeveloped areas, the statement said.

The two sides emphasised the need for improved regional cooperation and integration in the energy sector. They reaffirmed their commitment to address Pakistan’s growing energy needs by expanding technical assistance and promoting investment in Pakistan’s energy sector.

Cooperation in education and science and technology were reviewed, and both resolved to make best efforts to hold energy and education dialogues by the end of the year.

 

[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.

The words of Ikram Sehgal ring true here when "Asked whether he would likely follow a U.S. line, he said: "Pasha's only leaning is pro-Pakistan. He is neither pro-West nor anti-West."

Pakistan spy chief called tough - The Denver Post

 

[Neo]

Don't know what to make of it....do we have a puppet here?

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

The new DG ISI will support only Pakistan's interests and nothing else. there's no question of loyalty or war on terror, just Pakistan.

I think it's ridiculous to assume that Nadeem Taj was an islamist supporter, that's just laughable. Both of these competent men will do only what they know is best for Pakistan.

it's up to you guys to figure out why things are happening and for what reason. remember, sab seh pehlay Pakistan, or Pakistan first.

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

this is really getting annoying, tell them to stop sponsoring terrorism on our side. they never even bothered taking out Mehsud, why should Pakistan risk lives for no reason, just seal the da*n border!

on top of that, we have the some of the lowest scum on earth (politicians) making dangerous statements,

"Such agents 'act on their own in ways that are not in convergence' with Pakistan's interests or policies, said the spokeswoman, Sherry Rehman. 'We need to identify these people and weed them out.'"

Spanish report ties Pakistan spy agency to Taliban By PAUL HAVEN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 4 minutes ago

MADRID, Spain - Western intelligence agencies have long suspected that elements of Pakistan's spy service have aided the Taliban in Afghanistan, but a Spanish government report leaked to the media appears to be the first published assessment that spells out such cooperation.

The August 2005 report says Pakistan's shadowy Inter-Services Intelligence agency helped the Taliban procure roadside bombs and may even have provided training and intelligence to the Taliban in camps set up on Pakistani soil.

The Pakistani agency, known as the ISI, planned to have the Taliban use the explosives "to assassinate high-ranking officials" in Afghanistan, the report said.

It also warned of possible advanced training camps in Pakistan "where the Taliban receive training, help and intelligence from the ISI and where they are also developing new kinds" of improvised explosive devices. The report said the Taliban had also been receiving help from al-Qaida.

The document, which was obtained by Cadena Ser radio and posted on the station's Web site Wednesday, was marked "confidential" and topped with the Defense Ministry seal and the title of Spain's military intelligence agency.

A Defense Ministry spokesman refused to comment on the report, saying the ministry does not discuss intelligence issues. Cadena Ser did not say how it got the document.

While there is wide agreement among Western officials that at least some elements of Pakistani intelligence have aided the Taliban, the Spanish report appears to be the first time a Western government has spelled out the link.

A 2006 report by a British Defense Ministry think-tank discussed an ISI-Taliban link and said the Pakistani spy agency was supporting terrorism in Afghanistan, but the opinions expressed in the document did not constitute official government policy.

Pakistan's army spokesman vehemently denied any connection Wednesday, saying the implication of a link between the ISI and the Taliban was "baseless, unfounded and part of a malicious, well-orchestrated propaganda campaign to malign the ISI."

The agency "is the first line of defense of Pakistan and certain quarters are attempting to weaken our national intelligence system," the spokesman, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, told The Associated Press.

The Pakistani spy agency has helped kill or capture several top al-Qaida leaders since 2001, but there are lingering doubts about its loyalty, not least because its agents helped build up the Taliban in the 1990s.

And despite Wednesday's strong denial, a Pakistani government spokeswoman acknowledged in August that the government needs to root out Taliban sympathizers from its intelligence service.

Such agents "act on their own in ways that are not in convergence" with Pakistan's interests or policies, said the spokeswoman, Sherry Rehman. "We need to identify these people and weed them out."

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

Some analysts say elements in the spy agency may want to retain the Taliban as a bulwark against longtime rival India and believe Pakistan's strategic interests are best served if Afghanistan remains a weak state.

India and Afghanistan — and reportedly the U.S. — suspect the ISI of involvement in the July 7 bombing outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul, which killed more than 60 people. Pakistan denies the allegations.

Fernando Reinares, a terrorism analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute in Madrid and former chief counterterrorism adviser at Spain's Interior Ministry, said the document appeared to be an internal report intended for high-level officials.

The "confidential" designation severely restricts access to the document, though it is not the highest level of secrecy available for official Spanish documents.

Reinares said Spain has developed a strong military and police intelligence operation in Pakistan, particularly since the terror attacks in Madrid on March 11, 2004. Spain has about 800 soldiers deployed in northwest Afghanistan.

Reinares said the report is in keeping with information held by other Western spy agencies.

"The intelligence services have done nothing more then confirm a reality which has also been reported by other Western agencies," he said.

___

Associated Press Writer Zarar Khan in Islamabad, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

Spanish report ties Pakistan spy agency to Taliban - Yahoo! News

^^^^you know muslims complain about how "jews control the media", take a look at the writer above. when we have muslims who could care less about their brethren in islamic countries, who needs enemies?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

^^^ How many Spaniards are in Afghanistan anyway?

And Saddam had WMD's right before the invasion too.

Whatever.

Now this report is allegdely dated 2005, what time period did the information collected refer too? Given that the US decided to include criminals such as the drug and warlords of the NA into the GoA, it is possible that the people at the time in the ISI (pre Musharraf's 'purge') may have decide to take out teh drug and war lords - Afghanistan may not have become the narco-capital of teh world it is currently if they had.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Don't know what to make of it....do we have a puppet here?

Why think that Neo?

Its not as if Gen Pasha is not qualified, nor has Gen. Taj been slighted or demoted. The DG ISI has to be rotated anyway, and if doing so now, with a man who has led the ops. in the North West, serves to allay the concerns of allies, and answer critics of the ISI, then why not?

 

[BanglaBhoot]

This is the notorious B.Raman's (a former high official of RAW) take on this issue. It might have some indications of what is going on and the Indian attitude to the whole thing -

US, Chinese Unhappiness Leads to Transfer of ISI Chief

by B. Raman

The General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army announced on the night of September 29, 2008, that Major-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, the Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO), has been promoted as Lt. General and posted as the Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in place of Lt. Gen. Nadeem Taj, who has been transferred and posted as the Commander of the XXX Corps based at Gujranwala.

2. The change at the top of the ISI was part of a reshuffle involving 14 senior officers of the Army initiated by Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), after meeting Yousef Raza Gilani, the Prime Minister, shortly after Kayani's return from a week-long visit to China. The announcement of the changes, which were projected by a spokesman of the army as routine changes necessitated by the impending retirement of some senior officers, was made when President Asif Ali Zardari had not yet returned from his visit to the US. Under the changes introducted by Gen. (retired) Pervez Musharraf, when he was the President and the COAS, the powers for the approval of all promotions and postings in the ranks of Major-General and above are with the President. The COAS is competent to order all promotions and postings upto the rank of Brigadier. Even though an impression has been sought to be given that all promotions and postings announced on September 29,2008, were made with the approval of or in consultation with Prime Minister Gilani, it is very likely that Zardari's approval had been obtained either before he left for New York or while he was there.

3. Among other important changes, Lt Gen Yousuf, present Vice-Chief of General Staff, has been appointed as Corps Commander Bahawalpur in place of Lt Gen Raza Khan, who has been shifted as DG Joint Staff Headquarters. Maj-General Javed Iqbal, presently posted as GOC Jhelum, has been appointed as Director-General Military Operations (DG MO). Commander 10 Corps (Rawalpindi) Lt Gen Mohsin Kamal has been moved to General Headquarters as Military Secretary (MS) and in his place newly promoted Lt-General Tahir Mehmood has been appointed as Commander Rawalpindi Corps.

4. Maj-Gen Waheed Arshad has been appointed as the VCGS and the newly promoted Lt General Mustafa Khan has been posted as the Chief of the General Staff (CGS) in place of Lt Gen Salahuddin Satti, who will retire from the Army next week. The reshuffle involved the promotion of seven Majors-General to the rank of Lieutenants-General. They are Major General Tahir Mahmood (Infantry - present Commander Special Services Group), Major-General Shahid Iqbal (Infantry - Chief Instructor National Defence University), Major General Tanvir Tahir (EME - DG C4Is), Major-General Zahid Hussain (Artillery - Commandant Pakistan Military Academy), Major General Ahmad Shuja Pasha (Infantry - DG Military Operations), Major-General Mohammad Mustafa Khan (Armoured Corps - ISI), and Major-General Ayyaz Saleem Rana (Armoured Corps - ISI). Major-Generals Nusrat Naeem (ISI), Asif Akhtar (ISI), Khalid Jaffari (Anti-Narcotics Force)), Shoukat Sultan (GOC Lahore) and Mohammad Saddique (GHQ - former acting Chairman National Accountability Bureau) have been superseded. They will, however, continue to serve as Majors-General.

5. Of the five senior officers in the ISI----one of the rank of Lt. General and four of the rank of Maj. Gen---Lt. Gen. Nadeem Taj has been moved out, Maj. Gen. Mustafa Khan has been promoted as Lt. Gen. and appointed as the CGS, who acts as the eyes and ears of the COAS in the GHQ, and Maj. Gen. Ayyaz Saleem has been promoted and posted as the Chairman of the heavy industry complex at Taxila.Majs. Gen. Nusrat Naeem and Asif Akhtar have been superseded. They have been allowed to continue till their superannuation as Majs. Gen., but it is not known whether they will continue in the ISI or will be shifted out. Among other superseded Majs-Gen is Mohammad Saddique, who used to be in the National Accountability Bureau and was handling the corruption cases against Benazir Bhutto and Zardari.

6. Gen.Kayani will have in the important posts of the CGS, the DG, ISI, and Corps Commander, Rawalpindi, persons, who owe their promotion as Lts.Gen. to him and not to Musharraf. The CGS, the DG ISI and the Corps Commander Rawalpindi constitute an informal triumvirate without whom, according to conventional wisdom, no COAS can stage a coup. The persons appointed to these posts as well as to the post of the DGMO are generally viewed as confirmed loyalists of the COAS.

7. Lt. Gen. Nadeen Taj, who is distantly related to Musharraf, served as the DG ISI for less than a year. He took over as the DG, ISI, on October 8, 2007, after his promotion to the rank of Lt. Gen. Till then, he served as the Commandant, Pakistan Military Academy, with the rank of Maj. Gen.

8. Lt. Gen. Pasha, who was promoted from the rank of Brigadier to that of Maj.Gen. by Musharraf in January, 2003, is due to retire on September 29, 2012.He has commanded an infantry brigade, a mechanised infantry brigade and an infantry division and has served as the Chief Instructor of the Command and Staff College. In 2001-2002, as a Brigadier, he served as a Contingent and Sector Commander with the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. In October, 2007, Musharraf agreed to a request from Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, to relieve Pasha from the post of the DGMO so that he could be appointed as the Military Adviser, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, in the UN headquarters, in place of General Per Arne Five of Norway. An announcement on his posting in the UN headquarters was also made by the office of the UN Secretary-General.

9. But, this posting did not materialise. In view of the Swat Valley in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) coming under the control of the Taliban-affiliated Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM) headed by Maulana Fazlullah, Musharraf ordered a special military operation against the TNSM and asked Pasha in his capacity as the DGMO to co-ordinate it. Pasha got Sufi Mohammad, former chief of the TNSM, who was in detention since 2002, released and sought his help in the operation. In January, 2008, Pasha announced that his troops had defeated the TNSM and freed the Swat Valley from the control of the TNSM. His claim came to haunt him shortly thereafter when the TNSM, which had withdrawn into the hills, staged a come-back and re-established its control over large areas of the Swat. Fighting there is still going on. In August, 2008, shortly after the return of Gilani from a visit to Washington DC, Gen.Kayani ordered another special operation against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al Qaeda in the Bajaur Agency of the Federally-Administered Tribal Area (FATA) and asked Pasha to co-ordinate it too. Despite repeated claims of the Army having inflicted heavy casualties on the TTP and Al Qaeda, the two have been putting up a determined fight against the Army and the Frontier Corps.

10. The "Dawn" of Karachi reported on September 29 as follows: "Military operations against militants have been a mixed bag of successes and setbacks; however no timeframe could be given with regard to the ongoing campaigns, sources in the military said. ‘It is a continual operation. It is not going to end in 2008 and it is not going to end in 2009. Don’t be optimistic, as far as the timeframe is concerned. It is a different ground and it will take some time’, military sources said in a media briefing." Thus, as the DGMO, Pasha has had a colourless record. That, despite this, he has been posted as the DG, ISI, shows his closeness and loyalty to Kayani, who had taken him for his secret meeting with Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman, US Joint Chiefs of Staff, on board a US Aircraft Carrier, on August 26,2008, and not Lt. Gen. Nadeem Taj.

11. The removal of Nadeem Taj has come in the wake of reports about US concerns and unhappiness over the alleged role of the ISI in the attempt to blow up the Indian Embassy in Kabul on July 7, 2008, and over leakage of information shared by the US intelligence with the ISI to the Taliban. President Bush was reported to have taken up this matter with Prime Minister Gilani, when he visited Washington DC in the last week of July as well as with Zardari whom he met in the margins of the current UN General Assembly session. While removing Taj from the post of DG, ISI, Kayani has taken care not to create a feeling of humiliation in him by posting him as the Commander of an important Corps, but as the Corps Commander at Gujranwala he will not have much to do with Afghanistan or the ongoing military operations in the tribal belt. Kayani has removed him from any role in the operations against the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

12. The removal of Taj from the ISI has also come in the wake of reports of Chinese unhappiness as expressed to Kayani during his week-long visit to China from September 21, 2008, over the lack of a sense of urgency shown by the ISI in rescuing the two Chinese engineers kidnapped by the TTP on August 29. They were working for a Chinese cellular company in the Dir area of the NWFP. The TTP kidnapped them while they were travelling and removed them to the Swat valley. The TTP has been demanding the release of over 130 Taliban members presently in the custody of the Pakistani security agencies in return for their release.

13. The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad and Chinese engineers working in Pakistan have also been reportedly expressing their unhappiness over the lack of a sense of urgency shown by the Gilani Government as a whole in getting the Chinese engineers released. They have been pointing out as to how Musharraf always gave the first priority to requests from China for assistance and to the commando action ordered by him on the Lal Masjid of Islamabad when some of the students, including Uighurs, in the madrasas of the masjid, kidnapped some Chinese women working in Islamabad, and comparing this to the lethargic response of Gilani and Zardari. They feel that Gilani and Zardari have been giving a greater importance to US interests and concerns than to those of the Chinese.

14. In a report on the subject carried by the 'News" of September 24, 2008, Rahimullah Yusufzai, the well-informed Pakistani journalist, said as follows: " A Chinese journalist, who requested anonymity, said the Pakistan Government hasn't shown any urgency in getting the two young engineers freed. He recalled how the issue of the two Chinese engineers kidnapped by late Pakistani Taliban commander Abdullah Mahsud's men in South Waziristan in 2004 was resolved within a few days. "The recent case of kidnapping of Chinese engineers hasn't been resolved even after more than three weeks. We were hoping our citizens would have been freed by now, he said."

15. Before his election as the President, Zardari had stated that his first official visit as the President would be to China to underline the importance attached by him to Pakistan's relations with China. He did not keep his word and instead went on a private visit to the United Arab Emirates and the UK and then on an official visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly session. Pakistani officials have been explaining this away by claiming that his visit to New York was not a bilateral visit to the US and that his first official bilateral visit would still be to China.

US, Chinese Unhappiness Leads to Transfer of ISI Chief

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Thanks for posting that Munshi sahib.

B Raman, as usual, mixes interesting facts with distorted opinions and conclusions.

In January, 2008, Pasha announced that his troops had defeated the TNSM and freed the Swat Valley from the control of the TNSM. His claim came to haunt him shortly thereafter when the TNSM, which had withdrawn into the hills, staged a come-back and re-established its control over large areas of the Swat.

At the time Gen. Pasha's claim was correct, most of the Swat valley had been cleared out, and the reports at the time suggested that the military was planning to move into the mountains in search of Mullah FM. It was not a failure on the part of the PA that led to the Taliban emerging again, rather it was the peace deals initiated by the new government, that halted the ops. and allowed the Taliban back in.

As we know now, the attacks by the Taliban never stopped, and they used the time to consolidate their position.

But what would B Raman do if he couldn't belittle Pakistan in some fashion. I don't think his hate filled mind would survive for very long if he actually became objective.

 

[Neo]

Why think that Neo?

Its not as if Gen Pasha is not qualified, nor has Gen. Taj been slighted or demoted. The DG ISI has to be rotated anyway, and if doing so now, with a man who has led the ops. in the North West, serves to allay the concerns of allies, and answer critics of the ISI, then why not?

I guess I don't know enough about this guy, will try to dig up whatever I can find on his background and achievements.

 

[HAIDER]

More they replace Musharraf appointees , more fanning the doubts about rift between US-Musharraf. Mushi knew how to handle the situation very well and was in full control.

 

[batmannow]

The new DG ISI will support only Pakistan's interests and nothing else. there's no question of loyalty or war on terror, just Pakistan.

I think it's ridiculous to assume that Nadeem Taj was an islamist supporter, that's just laughable. Both of these competent men will do only what they know is best for Pakistan.

it's up to you guys to figure out why things are happening and for what reason. remember, sab seh pehlay Pakistan, or Pakistan first.

Dear asaad-ul-islam; sir
Right, now its seems, opposite of PAKISTAN FRIST!
now its US FRIST?
everybody knows that , COAS got appointed because of US intervention, then, PM tried to dumped ISI, afterwards USA spoke it up, & now after brain stroming on the US aircraft carrier, new DG ISI (Major-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha)got appointed.
i think, its a hard fact which, we should start accepting, that USA is the mentor here!

All this, had happened because of the remaining fear of MUSHARAFISM in the pakistan army by USA. Thus Nadeem Taj was a casulity of that fear!
Dear, commrads plz look at this picture & think what was going on there!View attachment 918 that was long before, new DG of ISI being appointed.

 

[Neo]

U.S. watches for payoff from Pakistan intel move​

Thu Oct 2, 2008

Randall Mikkelsen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pakistan's decision to replace its intelligence chief moves toward addressing a long-held U.S. concern about the country's ability to fight border-area militants attacking in Afghanistan, but may not succeed on its own.

The Bush administration, wary of inflaming anti-U.S. sentiment in Pakistan, has been quiet in responding to the appointment this week of Lt.-Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha as director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate.

But one U.S. official said Pasha, a former head of military operations, is strongly qualified for the job.

In making the move, Pakistan's army chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani put in place an ally with experience in border areas that Taliban and al Qaeda militants have made their hideout, the U.S. official and terrorism analysts said.

That could strengthen the Pakistan military's hand in fighting the militants, whose attacks against U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan are on the increase.

"He (Pasha) comes to the job with serious qualifications. He knows military operations and knows tribal areas. He is also close to Gen. Kayani and has spoken publicly about the danger that extremism poses to Pakistan. But that said, ultimately what counts most are actions on the ground," the U.S. official said.

But even with this move Pakistan's government still has not shown the will the United States is looking for to eliminate the militant threat.

A major test will be whether Pakistan can capture or kill a senior fighter, said Bryan Glyn Williams, a University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth professor who has testified as an expert witness at a Guantanamo terrorism trial.

"They have been catastrophically incapable of getting high-level Taliban targets. This is how Pasha can prove that he's serious," Williams said.

The United States has grown increasingly alarmed over the strength of the border-area militants. It has drawn sharp criticism from Pakistan for strikes against the militants inside Pakistani territory using unmanned aircraft, or, in at least one case, Special Forces commandos.

"STATE WITHIN A STATE"

Often referred to by critics as a "state within a state", the ISI helped the United States eliminate hundreds of al Qaeda fighters after the September 11 attacks.

But U.S. officials fear the ISI may be playing a double-game, backing the Taliban and other militants as allies to gain leverage in Afghanistan and Indian Kashmir. Washington has privately urged Pakistan's six-month-old civilian government to exert more control over the agency.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe declined to comment on Pasha's appointment. "That's an internal matter to Pakistan," Johndroe said.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell also declined to discuss the appointment, but said, "We are encouraging of the Pakistani government's reorganizing itself as necessary to take on the threat emanating from the tribal areas."

Hassan Abbas, a Harvard University research fellow and former border-area Pakistani police chief, called Pasha's appointment a "very important move." He cited Pasha's service with U.N. peacekeeping, experience as director of army operations in a border region, and his ties to Kayani.

"This choice shows that (Pakistan President Asif Ali) Zardari is providing Kayani every chance to strengthen his hold in (the) army and confront the terrorists strongly," he said.

Abbas said the next six months would tell whether Zardari's strategy is working.

The United States may have to boost quiet pressure on Zardari to succeed in shutting down support for the militant fighters that extends to high levels of the government, said terrorism analyst Seth Jones of the Rand Corp.

An effort may be needed like the U.S. pressure on former President Pervez Musharraf after the September 11 attacks, when Washington said he must either support the U.S. battle to oust Afghanistan's Taliban government or be considered an enemy, Jones said.

He said Pakistan still holds a view of its national interest that sees the Taliban as a counter to rival influences in Afghanistan. "The issue is less who is running them (the ISI) than the strategic interests of the state," he added.