ISI – US Relations

A succession of spy scandals has sent the ISI’s relationship with the CIA — and, more broadly, with the United States— to a historic low in 2011. Tensions rose in January 2011 after a C.I.A. contractor shot and killed two Pakistanis inLahore, and then worsened in May after the surprise American raid that killed Osama [...]

Was the New DG ISI Chosen Because He is Not Americanized Like the Current DG?

The PM of Pakistan appointed a new general to run the country’s most powerful intelligence agency on March 9, 2012, signaling an important change in the military leadership at a pivotal moment in relations with theUnited States. Lt. Gen. Zahir ul-Islam will take over as the director general of the ISI on March 18, replacing [...]

Mother of the 4 Adiala Prisoners Could Not Take it Anymore

Within 24 hours of meeting her two children, previously ‘missing’ prisoners in the Adiala jail saga, Rohaifa, the petitioner in the shocking case, died of cardiac arrest on Feb 14, 2012. After a sleepless night following the meeting, 60-year-old Rohaifa developed a heartache. She had earlier witnessed the disturbing sight of her sons, Abdul Majid [...]

Hamid Mir Publicizes a Death Threat

By Bob Dietz/CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Geo TV’s television anchor has just circulated a detailed email message of threats he has been receiving. Hamid Mir’s open, public response to the threats is a textbook case of how to handle the steady stream of intimidation that journalists face, not just inPakistanbut in other parts of the world [...]

Haqqanis Freely Move in Pakistan

Hillary Clinton during her visit to Pakistan demanded that ISI either deliver the Haqqani network, a virulent part of the insurgency fighting American forces in Afghanistan, to the negotiating table or help fight them in their stronghold in Pakistan’s rugged tribal areas. But there are any number of reasons why the Pakistanis may disappoint the Americans. Not [...]

Americans Are Clueless About Handling the Haqqani Clan

By Mark Mazzetti, Scott Shane andAlissa J. Rubin/ NYT The Haqqani clan are the Sopranos of the Afghanistan war, a ruthless crime family that built an empire out of kidnapping, extortion, smuggling, even trucking. They have trafficked in precious gems, stolen lumber and demanded protection money from businesses building roads and schools with American reconstruction funds. They safeguard their [...]

ISI’s Secret Pakistan: BBC2 Documentary

ISI provides weapons and training to the Taliban fighting US and British troops in Afghanistan, despite official denials, a BBC documentary quotes some people it claims to be Taliban commanders as alleging. A number of middle-ranking Taliban commanders, it said, revealed the extent of Pakistani support in interviews for the BBC Two documentary series, `Secret [...]

Kashmiri American Council Was Simply Lobbying, Like 2500 Other Agents

History also tells us that the covert capabilities of the CIA, like those of the intelligence services of other powers, both great and small, have often been used to influence public opinion and events in sovereign foreign countries. The use of such means is usually extolled or excoriated according to one’s appreciation of the ends to [...]

Did ISI Personnel Attend Dawood Ibrahim’s Son Wedding in Karachi?

The following report from the Indian press makes some extraordinary claims. It was written by J. Dey, who was gunned-down recently. India has accessed fresh evidence that proves underworld don and India’s most wanted Dawood Ibrahim continues to live and flourish in Pakistan. A highly classified intelligence report, prepared by Indian security and intelligence agencies, [...]

Call to Move America to a Policy of Containment Which Means a More Hostile Relationship

By Bruce O. Riedel It seems America needs a new policy for dealing with Pakistan. First, it must recognize that the two countries’ strategic interests are in conflict, not harmony, and will remain that way as long asPakistan’s army controls Pakistan’s strategic policies. It must contain the Pakistani Army’s ambitions until real civilian rule returns and [...]