chief of Pakistan's main intelligence service will surely be
scrutinized by American officials who have questioned the powerful spy
agency's loyalties in the war on terror.
The appointment of Lt.
Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha as head of Inter-Services Intelligence was
among several changes in what appeared to be a major shake up of the
military leadership.
In his most recent capacity as director
general of military operations, Pasha oversaw military offensives
against insurgents in the nuclear-armed nation's restive northwest.
The
region is home to Taliban and al-Qaida militants involved in attacks on
American and NATO forces in Afghanistan as well as rising strikes
within Pakistan.
The statement late Monday gave no more details
about Pasha, but Pakistani defense analyst Talat Masood described him
as "highly professional."
Pasha replaces Lt. Gen. Nadeem Taj,
who was in the position about a year after being appointed by former
President Pervez Musharraf.
Musharraf, a former army chief and
U.S. ally, was forced to quit the presidency in August amid threats of
impeachment by the fledgling civilian government.
The statement listed several new postings that are expected to take effect in several weeks.
Masood
said the changes appeared to be an effort by Gen. Ashfaq Parvez
Kayani—who succeeded Musharraf as army chief and once headed the ISI
himself—to consolidate his control over the military.
U.S. intelligence India and Afghanistan—and reportedly the Pakistani intelligence helped Pakistan also was one of the Officially, In July, the Pakistani government reportedly tried to bring the Pakistan has Still, The army statement said Taj has been appointed Corps Commander for Gujranwala. Maj. From : http://www.mercurynews.com
agencies suspect rogue elements in the ISI have been giving Taliban
militants sensitive information to aid them in their growing insurgency
in Afghanistan.
U.S.—also suspect the agency of involvement in the July 7 bombing
outside India's Embassy in Kabul that killed more than 60 people.
Pakistan denies the allegations.
create the Taliban militia, many of whose leaders and recruits studied
at religious schools in Pakistan.
few countries that gave diplomatic recognition to the Taliban's
fundamentalist rule in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
Pakistan allied itself with the U.S. after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks,
but observers say elements in the ISI may still be aiding Taliban
fighters in part to retain them as assets against longtime rival India.
ISI under the control of the Interior Ministry, but quickly reversed
the decision apparently after military dissent.
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.
the army chief has shown an independent streak, and has condemned in
harsh terms U.S. crossborder strikes in Pakistan's northwest.
Murad Khan, an army spokesman, said Tuesday that Maj. Gen. Javed Iqbal
would succeed Pasha as director general of military operations. He
declined to provide any details about Iqbal.
