New spy master Lt-Gen Faiz meets Premier Imran

'Prime minister lauds ISI’s role in dealing with internal and external challenges'

ISLAMABAD: Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, the newly appointed head of the country’s premier spy agency – the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) – on Tuesday met Prime Minister Imran Khan at his office in Islamabad.

A short video of the meeting was released to the media without the official statement by the PM Office.

However, sources told The Express Tribune that the premier congratulated Lt-Gen Faiz over his appointment and praised the role of ISI in dealing with internal and external challenges facing the country.

Lt-Gen Faiz was appointed to lead the agency on Sunday in a reshuffle within the military that also saw other transfers and postings. The significant appointment was nevertheless of the DG ISI.

Lt Gen Faiz Hameed appointed new DG ISI

The newly-appointed officer is not new to the intelligence apparatus. He had served in ISI as head of the internal security for two and half years before being promoted to the rank of Lt General and then posted as Adjutant General at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi in April.

Those who followed Gen Faiz’s career believe that his appointment as DG ISI is a foregone conclusion given his vast experience working in the agency. As the head of counter-intelligence wing, Lt-Gen Faiz was credited with turning the tide against terrorism and extremism.

DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor, in one of his news conferences, publically praised Lt-Gen Faiz for his department’s vital role in preventing and preempting terrorist incidents.

Now as head of the ISI, he will look after both internal and external security challenges. The post of DG ISI is considered the most powerful after the army chief within the military establishment.