Should Pakistan's ISI Be Labeled As A Terrorist Organization

Blacklist ISI As A Terrorist Entity, Demands Kabul -- Times Of India

NEW DELHI: Should Pakistan's ISI, the country's powerful intelligence agency, be blacklisted? The Afghan national Security Council has strongly recommended that the ISI should be declared a terrorist entity. The strongly-worded official Afghan reaction will affect outside efforts to stitch an agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan on bringing the Taliban into government.

On Sunday, Rahmatullah Nabil, Afghanistan's deputy national security adviser, was quoted as saying in an interview, "The interesting question is why is a terrorist blacklisted but the person who issues the Fatwa for them [to act] or who provides havens to them not blacklisted?"

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My Comment: Afghanistan is pushing for this terrorist designation, but what I find is interesting is that India will not support it.

Pakistan's New Spy Chief Visits Washington

ISI chief Zaheer-ul-Islam has traveled to the US for talks with CIA Director Gen David Petraeus. PHOTO: FILE

Pakistan's ISI Chief Visits The US For Talks -- Deutsche Welle

The chief of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence has begun his first official US tour today, but does he have an offer for the US vis-à-vis the militant Haqqani network? Pakistan experts don't expect much on this.

It is the first time in about a year that the head of Pakistan's powerful spy agency, the ISI, is visiting the US.

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More News On The Heads Of The CIA And Pakistan's ISI Meeting In Washington For Talks

Pakistan’s New Spy Chief Visits Washington at a Time of Frayed Relations -- New York Times
Pakistan ISI chief Zaheerul Islam makes US visit -- BBC
ISI chief arrives in US to hold talks with Petraeus -- Hindustan Times
ISI chief lands in Washington, talks on drone attacks expected -- Express Tribune
Pakistan, U.S. intelligence chiefs to hold crucial talks in Washington -- Xinhuanet
Washington rendezvous: ISI chief to push for end to drone strike, says Malik -- Express Tribune/Reuters

What Is The Thinking Of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency

Photo: Lt. Gen. Hamid Gul

The ISI Threat in Pakistan Is Serious -- Max Boot, Commentary

Pakistani military leaders play a good double game, assuring the West of their eternal allegiance while at the same time sponsoring terrorist groups such as the Haqqani network which attacked the U.S. embassy in Kabul. But the mask often slips. To get a true sense of the thinking of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency–which has emerged as one of the two biggest state sponsors of terrorism in the world (its only rival is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard)–just read these recent interviews with its former director, retired Lt. Gen. Hamid Gul, who is known for his close links to the Taliban and the Haqqani network, among other terrorist groups. As translated by the invaluable MEMRI, here is some of what Gul had to say:

“The goals that the U.S. wants to achieve are not in Pakistan’s interest. The U.S. wants Indian supremacy in Afghanistan.”

“9/11 was basically a pretext for the Americans to establish a permanent presence in Afghanistan, as this is a central strategic location. From here, the Americans can contain China, control the Middle East and South Asia, and keep an eye on Central Asia. Pakistan represents their central target.”

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My Comment: A sobering look at Pakistan's ISI .... and what they are thinking. With allies like this .... who needs enemies. Read it all.

U.S. Admiral Mullen Says Pakistan's ISI Supported Kabul Embassy Attack

Mullen Asserts Pakistani Role in Attack on U.S. Embassy -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — Pakistan’s intelligence agency aided the insurgents who attacked the American Embassy in Kabul last week, Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate on Thursday.

In comments that were the first to directly link Pakistan’s powerful spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, or ISI, with an assault on the United States, Admiral Mullen went further than any other American official in blaming the ISI for undermining the American military effort in Afghanistan. The United States has long said that the ISI has close links to Afghan insurgents, particularly the Haqqani network, but no one has been as blunt as Admiral Mullen. He is to retire at the end of this month.

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More News On Adm. Mike Mullen Accusing Pakistan Of Aiding Militants In Afghanistan

Mullen accuses Pakistani government of exporting violence to Afghanistan -- Washington Post
Mullen: Pakistanis export violence to Afghanistan -- USA Today
U.S. says Pakistan's ISI supported Kabul embassy attack -- Reuters
US Military: Pakistan ‘Exports Violence’ to Afghanistan -- Voice of America
US Admiral: 'Haqqani is veritable arm of Pakistan's ISI' -- BBC
Pakistan 'backed Haqqani attack on Kabul' - Mike Mullen -- BBC
US slams Pakistan for 'supporting' Haqqani -- Al Jazeera
Pakistan ISI 'exporting violence' to Afghanistan: US -- AFP
Mullen: Pakistan exports violence to Afghanistan -- CBS/AP
U.S. Military Chief Says Pakistan 'Exporting Violence' To Afghanistan -- Radio Free Europe
Pakistan was behind attacks on U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, says Mike Mullen -- Daily Mail
US suspects Pakistan's hand in Kabul embassy attack -- Christian Science Monitor
Pakistan using Haqqani network to wage 'proxy war' in Afghanistan -- The Telegraph
Admiral Mullen: Pakistani ISI sponsoring Haqqani attacks -- Long War Journal
PAKISTAN: Officials reject U.S. charges of links to Haqqani group -- L.A. Times
More U.S.-Pakistan Kabuki Over Islamabad's Terror Ties -- Ishaan Tharoor, Time

My Comment: News on Pakistani support of the Taliban is nothing new, but coming from an official like Admiral Mullen is new. What is my take .... Adm. Mike Mullen is retiring very soon .... so he is now unleashing what he has probably known .... and kept to himself .... for a very long time.

Why Are Pakistani Spies Operating In Britain And The U.S.?

Photo: Pakistan;s Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (right) with ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha

Pakistani Spies 'Operating In Britain' -- The Telegraph

Pakistani spies have been operating a front organisation in London to exert political pressure on the government, it was claimed on Tuesday.

Details of the organisation emerged as two alleged spies were charged in the United States of failing to disclose their affiliation with the Pakistani government.

They are accused of secretly promoting Pakistani interests in the long-running conflict between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan over the disputed border region of Kashmir, using millions of dollars of covert funding.

Their arrest came as relations between the US and Pakistan continue to deteriorate in the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden.

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Previous Post: Is Pakistan Trying To Bribe U.S. Politicians?

My Comment: One more reason to distance ourselves from this Pakistani government. More news on Pakistan trying to influence U.S. policy can be read here.

Pakistan's Intelligence Services Have Broken All Ties With The CIA

Ahmed Shuja Pasha, the Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (far right). Reuters

Osama bin Laden Dead: Angry Pakistan Drops Intelligence Sharing With West -- The Telegraph

Pakistan's intelligence services are refusing to share details of suspects or plots with their American counterparts in protest at the US operation to kill Osama bin Laden, raising the potential threat of attacks on Western cities.

In the past, Pakistani agents have been credited with helping identify targets for drone strikes and providing data to the CIA on plans being hatched in its lawless tribal areas.

Now buffeted and embarrassed by being kept in the dark for months as the US closed in on the al-Qaeda leader's bolthole, little more than 30 miles from the Pakistani capital Islamabad, agents with the Inter-Services Intelligence directorate have begun to withhold crucial operational details about militants on its territory.

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More News On The Break In Cooperation Between The CIA And Pakistan's ISI

ISI drops intelligence sharing with CIA: report -- The International News
ISI stops intelligence sharing with CIA -- Hindustan Times
ISI refuses intelligence-sharing with CIA: Report -- Express Tribune
Berating General Pasha: Pakistan's Spy Chief Gets a Tongue-Lashing -- Time Magazine
Pakistan's army chief refuses to cooperate in rooting out Islamists -- Rick Moran, American Thinker

My Comment: From the outside the impression is that Pakistan's ISI is busily running around in trying to explain what is obviously a massive intelligence failure on its part. While blaming the U.S. is easy, the reality on the ground is that it is obvious that Bin Laden had an extensive support structure in Pakistan, and both he and this support structure were actively involved in planning terror attacks against the U.S.

Who was involved in supporting Bin Laden is the big secret right now .... and this is information that the U.S. is not sharing with anyone. This lack in sharing of information .... and not knowing what the U.S. knows .... is probably what is causing this break in relations between the two countries. As time goes by, I expect these relations to get even worse .... and what is an intelligence breaking of relations be translated into a political break in relations, starting with cutting back U.S. military aid to the Pakistani government and Pakistan threatening to cut NATO supply lines to Afghanistan.

The CIA Gets To Keep Their Ally In Pakistan's Powerful ISI Spy Agency

In this Aug. 27, 2008 file photo released by the U.S. Department of Defense, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pakistan's Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, right, is seen on the flight deck aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, in the Persian Gulf with, from left, Adm. Mike Mullen and Navy Rear Adm. Scott van Buskirk, and Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani. CTV News

Pakistan To Extend Term Of Powerful Spy Chief, Key CIA Partner In Fighting Militants -- Canadian Press

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's government will extend the term of the country's powerful spy chief, the CIA's main partner in the fight against al-Qaida and the Taliban and a major player in the country's policies toward Afghanistan, an official said Saturday.

The decision to keep Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha at the head of the Inter Services Intelligence, or the ISI, ensures continuity during a crucial phase in the war in Afghanistan. While ties between the CIA and the ISI are currently rocky, Pasha is believed to have good relationships with his American counterparts.

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More News On Extending The Term For Pakistan's ISI Chief

Govt to extend term of ISI chief: Mukhtar -- DAWN
ISI chief's tenure to be extended: Pak Defence Minister -- Sify News
ISI chief to get his second extension -- Hindustan Times
DG ISI tenure being extended, confirms Mukhtar -- The International News
Pakistan says spy chief to get extension of his term -- CTV News

Pakistan Says No To A U.S. Summons For It's Intelligence Chief

Pakistan Spy Chief To Ignore U.S. Summons -- New York Times

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan said Thursday that there was no possibility that the head of the country’s powerful spy organization, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, would obey a summons requesting his appearance before a court in the United States relating to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Mr. Gilani made the announcement while addressing lawmakers in the National Assembly. “ISI, being an extremely sensitive and important organization, would not be asked to appear before a U.S. court,” he said.

The comments were in response to a wrongful death lawsuit filed last month in a federal court in Brooklyn by relatives of victims of the Mumbai attacks, which left 175 people dead, including 9 of the attackers.

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More News On Pakistan's ISI Chief's Refusal To Go To An American Courtroom

Gilani: Don't bully Pakistani spy chief -- UPI
Pakistan will brook no dictation, says PM -- DAWN
Pakistan: Intelligence Chief Won't Be Forced to Appear in US Court -- Voice of America
ISI will never be asked to appear before US court: PM -- Associated Press of Pakistan
ISI chief won’t appear in US court, says PM -- Daily Times
No force can make ISI chief to appear before US court: Gilani -- Economic Times
'ISI cannot be forced to appear in US court' -- Express Tribune
Pakistani spy chief spared US court appearance -- Strait's Times

My Comment: Pakistan is a sovereign nation, they can do what they want. But in the eyes of U.S. public opinion, this gives the Pakistan government and their intelligence services a big black eye.

Pakistan's ISI Support For The Taliban Is Widespread And Is Official Policy

Pakistan's links with the Taliban could go much deeper than thought.

Pakistani Agents 'Funding And Training Afghan Taliban' -- BBC

Pakistani intelligence gives funding, training and sanctuary to the Afghan Taliban on a scale much larger than previously thought, a report says.

Taliban field commanders interviewed for the report suggested that ISI intelligence agents even attend Taliban supreme council meetings.

Support for the Afghan Taliban was "official ISI policy", the London School of Economics (LSE) authors suggest.

Pakistan's military denied the claims.

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More News On The Support Of the Taliban From Pakistan's ISI

Pakistan puppet masters guide the Taliban killers -- Times Online
Report slams Pakistan for meddling in Afghanistan -- Reuters
Zardari met Taliban leaders in prison: Report -- Sify News
Report: Pakistani spy agency supports Taliban -- AP
US intelligence zeroes-in on Afghan 'corruption' -- AFP
Report slams Pakistan for meddling in Afghanistan -- Dawn
Pak ISI training Taliban: Reports -- One India

Pakistan's Intelligence Services Are Still Indepedent From Political Oversight

Shopkeepers survey destroyed shops, a day after they were set ablaze by an angry mob in reaction to a suicide bomb attack on a procession of Shi'ite Muslims commemorating Ashura, in Karachi. Photo by Reuters

Issue Of Placing ISI Under Civilian Control Shelved: Zardari -- Times Of India

ISLAMABAD: Political forces in Pakistan want the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency to be placed under civilian control but the matter has been put on the backburner for the time being, President Asif Ali Zardari has said.

"The political forces want the ISI should be brought under civilian control but for the time being, this matter has been shelved," Zardari said in an interview with a TV news channel.

He did not give the reasons for the issue being shelved.

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My Comment: This lack of oversight and control of an important branch of the Pakistan military is one of the many reasons why Pakistan is now suffering from the violence and instability caused by the groups that these same agencies originally developed and organized.

Unfortunately, permitting civilian control over the ISI may not be the panacea that some are hoping for. The fear among many is that if the ISI was to fall under civilian control, politicians would then use the ISI to establish and support their political base .... especially during elections. The consequences may become even worse than if the ISI was an independent body.

Pakistan's ISI And The Taliban .... More Than Just Friends

The Pakistani Leak Machine -- Strategy Page

Senior U.S. military commanders are now openly complaining about Pakistani intelligence officials passing on information revealing American and NATO operations against al Qaeda and the Taliban. For several years now, the United States, Afghanistan, India and many Pakistanis, have been quietly pressuring the Pakistani government to reform the ISI (Inter Service Intelligence Agency). This organization has long been a power unto itself, with its own agenda and many members who support Islamic radicalism. It's ISI that is responsible for most of the leaks.

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My Comment: This blog has been saying the same thing for the past year .... the fact that it is now being said officially in a public forum is a sign of progress.

Pakistan's ISI Still Linked To Militants, U.S. Says

Photo: ISI headquarters in Islamabad, Pakistan. [Source: Banded Artists Productions]

From Yahoo News/AP:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has indications that elements of Pakistan's ISI military intelligence agency provide support to Taliban or al Qaeda militants, senior U.S. military officers said on Friday.

Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Army General David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, said the agency must end such activities.

The officers made their remarks as the United States unveiled a new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which promises more aid for Pakistan but seeks increased cooperation in the fight against al Qaeda and Taliban militants in return.

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My Comment: It is nice to hear the U.S. Joint Chiefs publicly voicing what many bloggers (including this one) have been voicing for the past few years.