Inter-Services Intelligence
From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium
Contents |
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is Pakistan's military intelligence and covert operations organization, which has been a separate power base through much of the nation's existence. It has tended to be populated by Islamists, although actions that might seem pro-Islamic often had complex roles in the power struggle with India, and especially with respect to Kashmir. For example, ISI helped create Jaish-e-Mohammed, designated a terrorist group by the U.S., but a proxy that could operate in Kashmir.
Its headquarters are in the Aabpara neighborhood of Islamabad; Pakistanis informally call them "the boys from Aabpara." Lieutenant general Ahmed Shuja Pasha heads the agency in September 2009. [1]
After the loss of Bangladesh
ISI's role, in the early 1970s, included domestic security within the military, as well as actions against insurgencies.[2]
Anti-Soviet programs, in context
ISI, working with the Central Intelligence Agency, created the Peshawar Seven resistance groups to the Soviets, during the Afghanistan War (1978-92). It is widely credited to having a major role in supporting the formation of the Taliban. These actions were not strictly for reasons of Islamic militancy, but as a part of Pakistani policy towards India.
After the Soviets
Later, they regarded Hamid Karzai, and, to a lesser extent, the Northern Alliance, as pro-Indian, so offset them.
Musharraf and ISI
When President Pervez Musharraf chose to act against al-Qaeda, there was considerable resistance in parts of ISI. [3]
ISI made use of the relative lawlessness of the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA). Pakistan "benefited from FATA being a 'black hole' from which it could launch operations into Afghanistan and train militants operating in Afghanistan, Kashmir, and the rest of India." The Pakistani government also has banned secular political parties from operating there, but has not stopped religious parties from working from mosques and madrassahs. [4]
References
- ↑ David Ignatius (29 September 2009), "The View From Pakistan's Spies", Washington Post
- ↑ Hassan Abbas (2005), Pakistan's Drift into Extremism: Allah, the Army, and America's War on Terror, M.E. Sharpe, ISBN 0765614979, pp. 75-80
- ↑ Rory McCarthy (25 May 2002), "Dangerous game of state-sponsored terror that threatens nuclear conflict: Pakistani leader's attempt to rein in militants is met with defiance", The Guardian
- ↑ C. Christine Fair (April 2009), "Time for Sober Realism: Renegotiating U.S. Relations with Pakistan", The Washington Quarterly, DOI:10.1080/01636600902775680, p. 154
