Reports in the New York Times criticising the Pakistan Army and the ISI is a “direct attack” on Pakistan’s security, the army spokesman said on Saturday.
Major General Athar Abbas, the army’s chief spokesman, repeatedly criticised the Times’ reporting and said it was part of a calculated plan by “unnamed officials” to “weaken the state”. “This is a direct attack on our security organisation and intelligence agencies,” he told Reuters in a rare on-the-record in-person interview. “We consider ISI as a strategic intelligence organisation, the first line of our defence.”
Abbas was responding specifically to a July 8 editorial that said there was evidence of complicity by the ISI intelligence agency in sheltering bin Laden, of ties to the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people and of involvement in the abduction and murder of Asia Times Online journalist Saleem Shahzad. “This whole reporting through media, quoting unnamed officials, anonymous sources, is part of a design to undermine the authority and the power of the organisation in order to weaken the state,” Abbas said. He declined to specify exactly who the unnamed officials were, although the New York Times specified they were American officials. Abbas said there had been unease because of the bin Laden raid. “We have taken certain measures, which we consider, are in the best national interest.” “We have also ordered a number of them to be reduced, to go back, because we consider these as non-essential personnel in certain areas, and they’ve been asked to leave,” he said. The ISI and CIA, he said, which have worked together for decades, should “formalise” their relationship. He said Pasha had “asked them that the relationship between the two intelligence agencies should be formalised. It should be documented. It should not be open-ended. It should not be left to the other side to interpret the way they want to.”
There is something fishy. The integrity of our generals has been questionable throughout the history to Pakistan. On what grounds is NYT report chided?
Even if this report by NYT is based on ill-intent, it would be better to get a credible investigation conducted so that individual black sheep within the army, or judiciary and politics are not allowed to tarnish the image of Pakistan. I think Pakistan and its 170 milion people have suffered more than their share for the crimes and greed of few. If this report by NYT is considered to be credible by US govt, what stops them from proceeding against the few accused, who have their assets and families located either in Gulf, UK, USA, Canada, Spain etc., instead of hounding Pakistan and its institutions.
Why has America given space to men like retired Admiral Mansoor ul Haq, to live comfortably in USA, although they have been convicted of massive corruption. The plea bargain deal done by this man, who comes from a family which is notorious for corruption with the likes of Ahmed Sadiq in their ranks, should have been enough to put him behind bars. His assets and bank accounts in US do fall under the crime of MONEY LAUNDERING, or is this the prorogative of the govt to selectively punish such criminals.
'DESERVE IT'…
Saleem Shahzad was murdered. Where is the forensic? Where is the criminal investigation?
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