Pakistan puts spy agency under civilian control

[Neo]

Pakistan puts spy agency under civilian control​

Saturday, 26 Jul 2008

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani put the military's main spy agency under the control of the Interior Ministry on Saturday, a move seen as asserting civilian authority over the intelligence network.

The Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency is known to have wielded great influence on foreign and security policies, especially towards India and Afghanistan.

Critics say it played a major role in the creation of the Islamist Taliban movement which took control of Afghanistan in the 1990s and harbored al Qaeda until it was forced from power by U.S.-led forces in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

Last month, Pakistan denied accusations by Afghan authorities that the ISI was behind an attempt by Taliban militants to kill Afghan President Hamid Karzai in April.

"The Prime Minister (has) approved the placement of Intelligence Bureau and Inter Services Intelligence under the administrative, financial and operational control of the Interior Division with immediate effect," the Pakistani government said in a statement on Saturday.

The Intelligence Bureau is Pakistan's main civilian security agency.

Security analysts said the decision was the first move by the civilian government formed after February elections, led by the party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, to assert its authority over Pakistan's intelligence network.

SUSPICION

"Undoubtedly, it's a good decision. It will ensure better coordination between the intelligence agencies," former general turned analyst Talat Masood said.

"It's an effort to assert civilian oversight on the affairs of the intelligence agencies."

The government announcement came hours after Gilani embarked on his first official visit to the United States.

Pakistan dropped support for the Taliban and joined the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism after the September 11 attacks organized by Osama bin Laden, a guest of the Taliban.

But it has been unable to completely dispel suspicion that for various national security reasons, some elements of its security forces are still helping the Taliban.

Military issues are always closely watched in Pakistan, which has been ruled by generals for more than half of its 60 years of independence.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who seized power as a general in 1999, stepped down as army chief in November to become a civilian leader.

General Ashfaq Kayani, who succeeded Musharraf as army chief, has taken several steps to take the army out of politics, including ordering all army officers out of civilian posts and barring them from meeting politicians.

Pakistan puts spy agency under civilian control - Yahoo! News

 

[Neo]

What does this mean?

All spy agencies around the world do the dirty jobs for their government, not sure if placing ISI directly under Islamabad is a good move.

How is this going to affect our national security and 'black operations' government usually doesn't interfere with?

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

honestly Neo, you wouldn't be surprised at what is going on in my head right now. I will have great bursts of sadistic pleasure when a bullet from a sniper rifle goes through zardari's head. my soul will achieve inner peace and enlightenment.

this is what being ruled by "feudal jahel civilians" is like. they want to exert some control on the ISI because of their own egos. why are we doing this after india complains about the ISI? this is just pathetic and humiliating to our country, lowering the defense budget and increasing it after seeing how stupid we are, trying to clip the ISI's wings, making an India-centric trade policy. the best defense analyst you have is a sh!thead like Mukhtar, what can we possibly expect out of civilians from this country?

you're right, every spy agency has its own rogue elements. MI5 and MI6 are not under civilian control, I can bet you a million dollars Mosad isn't either. honestly, any spy agency controlled by civilians as far as i know is pathetic. we need a powerful "state within a state" running this country, or you can be satisfied with people like Zardari running the country (with the side effects already visible). The US has given full control to its agencies, they are not answerable to anyone at all.

oh yeah, and you only have to remember what happened the last time the ISI was put into civilian control ( cough zulfiqar ali bhutto ...) goodness, I have no hope for these jahel people. i'm glad i'm an expat, I hope no one is offended on this board. my comments are directed to the jahel population living in pakistan who voted for this crap.

honestly Neo, I believe only expats like us can run this country. the way I see it, it should be similar to the British "taking care" of the people who need to babysat. or we could have dictator who smashes any movement like the ones we've seen so far with an iron fist.

 

[Neo]

honestly Neo, you wouldn't be surprised at what is going on in my head right now. I will have great bursts of sadistic pleasure when a bullet from a sniper rifle goes through zardari's head. my soul will achieve inner peace and enlightenment.

Amen to that!

 

[pkpatriotic]

Pakistan puts spy agency under civilian control​

Saturday, 26 Jul 2008

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani put the military's main spy agency under the control of the Interior Ministry on Saturday, a move seen as asserting civilian authority over the intelligence network.

The Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency is known to have wielded great influence on foreign and security policies, especially towards India and Afghanistan.

Critics say it played a major role in the creation of the Islamist Taliban movement which took control of Afghanistan in the 1990s and harbored al Qaeda until it was forced from power by U.S.-led forces in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

Last month, Pakistan denied accusations by Afghan authorities that the ISI was behind an attempt by Taliban militants to kill Afghan President Hamid Karzai in April.

"The Prime Minister (has) approved the placement of Intelligence Bureau and Inter Services Intelligence under the administrative, financial and operational control of the Interior Division with immediate effect," the Pakistani government said in a statement on Saturday.

The Intelligence Bureau is Pakistan's main civilian security agency.

Security analysts said the decision was the first move by the civilian government formed after February elections, led by the party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, to assert its authority over Pakistan's intelligence network.

SUSPICION

"Undoubtedly, it's a good decision. It will ensure better coordination between the intelligence agencies," former general turned analyst Talat Masood said.

"It's an effort to assert civilian oversight on the affairs of the intelligence agencies."

The government announcement came hours after Gilani embarked on his first official visit to the United States.

Pakistan dropped support for the Taliban and joined the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism after the September 11 attacks organized by Osama bin Laden, a guest of the Taliban.

But it has been unable to completely dispel suspicion that for various national security reasons, some elements of its security forces are still helping the Taliban.

Military issues are always closely watched in Pakistan, which has been ruled by generals for more than half of its 60 years of independence.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who seized power as a general in 1999, stepped down as army chief in November to become a civilian leader.

General Ashfaq Kayani, who succeeded Musharraf as army chief, has taken several steps to take the army out of politics, including ordering all army officers out of civilian posts and barring them from meeting politicians.

Pakistan puts spy agency under civilian control - Yahoo! News

hmm...... nothing left behind to damage now...... if its not a "strategical show-off drama" than it must be use for political & personal rivals! God forbid, its may no doubt that, the government of vision less, leaderless political rulers may use to finalization the destablization agenda on behalf of their foreign lord!!!

 

[EagleEyes]

Credible sources believe by doing this there will be an enhanced coordination between the ISI and the government of Pakistan and its military.

So it is a good thing. The role of ISI will only be enhanced, and it doesn't and will not effect its role and its commitments for the national security of Pakistan.

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

good news Neo, that news report was a fake! I bet you thought it was real because you saw a scan of the document?

don't worry i thought it was real too, but seeing how only jang and GEO reported it i realized i got overexcited for nothing! after all, if we took any of their reports to be real Musharraf would have been on a plane back to Turkey right now!

Notification regarding ISI has been misunderstood : PID

Updated at: 0610 PST, Sunday, July 27, 2008

ISLAMABAD: A late night press release issued by the Press Information Department (PID) said that the notification regarding Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has been misunderstood and the ISI would remain under prime minister.

The announcement said that it was stressed in the notification for extending cooperation between the interior ministry and the ISI for matters like war against terror and internal security.

More details in this regard will be given in a detailed notification.

Earlier, this was said in a PID press release that the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) - were placed under Interior Division.

The Prime Minister placed the two intelligence agencies under the administrative, financial and operational control of the Interior Division under Rule 3 if the Constitution 1973.

The Cabinet Division issued a memorandum under rules of business in this regard.

Notification regarding ISI has been misunderstood : PID

P.S: i think it's time we take out GEO for good, they're really getting out of hand. anyways, I still stand by what I said about Zardari being eliminated.

I will attain "sukun" of mind if at least Zardari is taken out. it will be just like reaching enlightenment or nirvana, whatever you want to call it.

 

[muse]

What all this then:


Notification regarding ISI has been misunderstood : PID
Updated at: 0610 PST, Sunday, July 27, 2008
ISLAMABAD: A late night press release issued by the Press Information Department (PID) said that the notification regarding Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has been misunderstood and the ISI would remain under prime minister.

The announcement said that it was stressed in the notification for extending cooperation between the interior ministry and the ISI for matters like war against terror and internal security.

More details in this regard will be given in a detailed notification.

Earlier, this was said in a PID press release that the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) - were placed under Interior Division.

The Prime Minister placed the two intelligence agencies under the administrative, financial and operational control of the Interior Division under Rule 3 if the Constitution 1973.

The Cabinet Division issued a memorandum under rules of business in this regard.


An idiot government of Idiots, run by idiots, for Idiots

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

wtf? i don't get what's going on here? will jang and GEO clear up the confusion? if this is real, than Zardari WAS behind this!

Move to save Army from bad name: Zardari

Sunday, July 27, 2008

By Hamid Mir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has claimed that the decision to place the ISI under the Interior Ministry is a step towards the civilian rule and also to save the Army from controversies and a bad name.

Talking to The News from Dubai, Asif Ali Zardari said that a strong Army with non-political command was the need of the time and “we hope that positive results will come out from this historic decision”.

He said that in future, the enemies of Pakistan would not be able to defame the ISI. “Nobody will say that this agency is not under the control of an elected government as the Interior Ministry will be responsible for responding to the allegations against the ISI.”

On the other hand, top officials of the Interior Ministry claimed that the decision to place the ISI and the IB under the Interior Division was taken with the consent of the Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani but Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abbas said he had no information in this regard.

The decision to place the ISI and the IB under the Interior Division has raised many questions in political and diplomatic circles of Islamabad.

The most important question asked by diplomats was that why the prime minister gave his powers to the Adviser for Interior Rehman Malik.

A senior official of the Interior Ministry said that this decision was taken for better understanding between the two intelligence agencies and also to overcome some administrative difficulties. He said that maintaining law and order was their responsibility as the Interior Ministry was always answerable to the judiciary and parliament but “sometimes we feel that we have no information about certain national security issues and we cannot answer them properly in courts and parliament.”

He said that Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik will report to the prime minister and there was no question of cutting down the powers of the PM.

A top Interior Ministry official said that they were summoned by the Supreme Court in the Lal Masjid case but both interior minister and secretary interior were not in Pakistan when the operation was started in Lal Masjid last year but “we faced the music”. He said the court asked for information about the missing persons but they had no information because most of the operations against al-Qaeda and the Taliban were conducted by the ISI. The Interior Ministry official claimed that better coordination between the intelligence agencies will improve the law and order situation.

The decision to place the ISI under the Interior Division was taken when the prime minister, the information minister and the adviser on interior were not in Pakistan.

Defence experts are of the view that ISI is not responsible for internal security, this agency looks after external security and the Interior Division has nothing to do with external operations.

According to some sources, the ISI was taken into confidence before this “historic decision”.

Many analysts think that the prime minister is a symbol of an elected house and instead of empowering an elected leader, the real decision makers empowered a person who was not even elected and this decision could create more controversies and more problems for the new government.

Move to save Army from bad name: Zardari

 

[EagleEyes]

Interior Ministry or Interior Division same thing. It is under Prime Minister. What did Geo report wrong?

 

[Neo]

good news Neo, that news report was a fake! I bet you thought it was real because you saw a scan of the document?

It was on the net!

I still stand by what I said about Zardari being eliminated.

I will attain "sukun" of mind if at least Zardari is taken out. it will be just like reaching enlightenment or nirvana, whatever you want to call it.

Still loving the idea!

 

[Awesome]

Any shady thing the ISI does, the government should be ready to bear the brunt for it!

Previously we could've gotten away with blaming the director and changing a few generals up n down whenever we got caught.

 

[IceCold]

ISI should be given a free hand and a free budget inorder to handle the challenging situations that we are facing and will going to face in the near future. It does not matter who's control it comes under,what really matters is that its wings should not be clipped. Raw with the help of that bastard Karzai is spreading its winds into our tribal areas, we need to take them out before the issue gets off hands. Why is that our majority or people do not understand these complexities and are bent on bringing people, into the government that cannot handle the challenge. God bless Pakistan and give some sense to our pathetic awaam, good for nothing to not to be misguided by what these tolla's have to offer. Because in reality they have nothing too. We have already seen the progress of 100 plus days.

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

okay, I'm really starting to get confused now. what is the final decision? can GEO clarify?

anyways, it's not like this would change anything. they must be pretty stupid to think that ISI officers would be ordered around by them. i mean come on now, if we were working there, would we ever suck up to these worthless people? would we bow down to them?

look at the fact that zardari is making this decision in dubai, is he afraid or something? i really hope someone puts a hot metal bullet thru his head, there will be no UN investigation for his a$$!

Putting ISI under interior ministry decision was wrong: Hameed Gul
Updated at: 1543 PST, Sunday, July 27, 2008

ISLAMABAD: ISI former chief, Lt. Gen. ® Hameed Gul has said that the denial of the decision placing ISI under the ministry of interior has foiled the conspiracy being hatched against the country’s defence system.

Talking to Geo News, Hameed Gul said that ISI was purely a defence set up and giving it under the control of interior ministry should not even be thought. He said that taking back the decision of putting ISI under interior ministry was a welcome step, as this organization all the time remains in a warlike situation safeguarding the interests of the country and it works as the eye and ear of Pakistan’s military system.

Responding to a question, he said that he was not in favour of ISI political role and when he was ISI chief, he had himself suggested ending ISI political role.

Putting ISI under interior ministry decision was wrong: Hameed Gul - GEO.tv

 

[araz]

Amen to that!

Are you two considering murder oof the "Saintly" Mr Zardari?
On a serious note if ISI is as developed as it is, then a simple announcement will not make any change to its practices. I think this is just to show the world, that we are exerting control over the ISI. It wont go any further than that.
My2Paisas worth
Araz