The Muslim Times’ Editor for Pakistan
Credit: Xpress Tribune
He’s the new boss of Aabpara, but he’s not the same as the old boss. Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam, the designate DG-ISI, just like the incumbent but soon to retire Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence Lt-Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, is also an infantryman, but hails from different regiment: the famed Punjab (Pasha is from another celebrated wing of the infantry, the Frontier Force).
Unlike Pasha, who took over the ISI after a stint as Director General Military Operations with little high-level intelligence experience, Islam has previously served in the ISI as a two-star major general, and also commanded the very cushy V Corps in Karachi. He’s a certified paratrooper and alpine-trained, and hails from a prominent military family of war heroes who’ve worn lots of brass.
Islam’s Karachi Tenure
The V Corps stint in Karachi is a complicated job. Like the IV Corps in Lahore, it’s regarded as a choice posting which only those officers close to the Chief of Army Staff get to hold. Firstly, it features command of the 25th Mechanized Division, which watches over every spot of land from Malir to upper Sindh, making it the largest land covering formation in the Army.
However here we are missing one basic fact as it requires lot of courage to accept it. Seed of superiority complex to fellow civilians is deeply sown and then fertilized in the minds of military officers. All this happens when one steps in PMA Kakul. After having served for couple of decades in this organisation I am speaking out the truth. Every officer in uniform is taught and expected to behave superior to his fellow civil counter parts, be it in administration, management, politics, education and so on. Similarly, when military officer puts red tape on its collars it becomes then irrelevant which branch he comes from. Infantry back ground or experience as corp commander does not mean that some one can prove good DG ISI.
The fact is military has vested interests and clearly defined policies which it has to implement for its survival. Until now there are no indications that military will stop interference in security and foreign policies. Top brass of military still claims (due to its inherent superiority complex) that civil elite lacks the required capacity/competence to handle these delicate matters. Appointment of Ms Khar as Foreign Minister and Mr Mukhtar as Defence Minister already support this view point. Startling revelations in Ashgar Khan case also clearly supports this view point Where civil elite stands and to fetch monetary benefits the extent to which they can go is coming obvious day by day.
Agreed that due to media bold reporting top military brass might become more careful but to expect that with the change of a spy chief the organisation will get overhauling will be living in fools paradise. US President Obama made so many tall claims of change before getting in to White House. However when he landed he found a different world having tight compartments of rules and regulations and was forced to follow it. So is the case with new spy chief. If he has to survive he has to fit himself to get moulded with existing business of the ISI. Further one has to see current COAS will remain on his head and might be outgoing spy chief also getting appointment closely related with ISI. So please do not expect any major change with the change of a face.
Good news for Zardari Sahib. With this new change in Military in all areas of the country and the change of command of ISI, the snare is getting precise, stronger and tighter. In regular life, you take antibiotics for the same sickness again and again, the immune system gets stronger and then stronger antibiotics loose the effects and doesn’t cure, then multiple medications and procedures need to be done to cure that disease. Same thing antibiotics of General Pasha had no significant effects any more, Here is a change of Command in ISA, and the changes of Core Commanders in many divisions will follow the change in Kiani’s desk in near Future. Then Zardari will feel bad, same as Bhutto felt after Zia impose his Martial Law and put Zardari’s Father-in-Law behind the bars.Hopefully, General Zaheer will continue the real mission of ISI – Keep spy-eye open in, around and outside of Pakistan.