ISLAMABAD: While many analysts believe that the powerful military and its intelligence wing have been playing a double game with the US in Afghanistan to see the Taliban return to power post an acrimonious US exit, Pakistan’s retired Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) chief wanted a diametrically opposite world.
The Telegraph reported on Wednesday quoted a meeting of then DG ISI Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha with a Stratfor researcher, the details of which were leaked by Wikileaks along with hundreds of emails.
The researcher wrote that Pasha was fearful of a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, that it would mean dangerous implications for Pakistan's security.
"We do not wish to see the Talibs dominate Afghanistan," Pasha was quoted as saying. "On the contrary, we want to see a broad-based government that can end the civil war in that country, which has had a disastrous fallout for us."
However, Pasha maintained that any future government in Afghanistan must also feature the Taliban. "Of course the Talibs will be a key player in a post-Nato Afghanistan, which we feel necessary for true peace to take place."
While the US has expressed its frustration with Pakistan's delay in taking military action against militants holed up in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, the recently retired spy chief said there were pre-requisites to any offensive in North Waziristan. "The only way an offensive in NW is through South Waziristan, which we are trying to stabilise with the building of roads and resettlement of locals," he said.
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anything related to pak puts these guys in a tizzy..
am I supposed to believe the chief of one of the most dreaded secret service agency was telling their deepest secrets in an interview to some 'researcher' ? what a pathetic piece of propaganda.
Yes Pushtoons are very well representated in Afghan government, beginning with Mr Karzai the president. What Pakistan wants is the Pushtoons that Pakistan supports .. that means Afghan Taleban. Then what did Taleban Pakistan do wrong ?
@Pakistan politics: im appointing you as my successor. keep it up my son. you hav a bright future
@Owahis Ehsan
Pashtuns are very well represented in the current set up for your information. Let me present the Pashtun ministers and influential people for you: Hamid Karzai, Rahim Wardak, Zalmai Rassoul, Omar Zakhilwal, Sher Mohammad Karimi, Rahmatullah Nabil, Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, Ghulam Farooq Wardak, Anwar Ul Haq Ahadi, Mohammad Yousuf Niyazi, Jarullah Mansoori, Amirzai Sangin, Arsala Jamal and Abdul Rahim to name a few. Pashtuns are dominating this current government, but these are not the Pashtuns that Pakistan would like to see in power. Get it right my friend. You know nothing about Afghanistan. Consult a patriotic Afghan before you spew your narrative.
A very mature & realistic thinking!
@Babloo: "So Mr Pasha wants Afghan Taleban to play a “Key Role” in Afghanaistan government. Then why should not Pakistan Taleban ( TTP ) not play a key role in Pakistan government ?"
Because Taleban (Mostly Pashtuns) are in majority in Afganistan having minimal represenation in current setup. While US and Nato itself is having meetings with them.
They are handful in Pakistan. Hence you are argument has no basis.
It is like ISI pulling wool all over the body rather than just over the eyes of the entire civilized world.
Fearful or hopeful?
We are all confused. It will grow as time passes. The other side of fence always gives another view, we will see more.
I think he was being disingenuous.
@Bhindian: Not yet. That's the day when Pakistan starts collecting ransom from India!
All praise to almighty ISI they can do no wrong. Every good rumor about them is authentic and every bad news is mere rumor for them. The generals have been intellectuals and expert philosophers, psychologists, political sciences, and International affairs. That is the reason they hate fighting and prefer their homes, cars and clubs.
cautious, i heard TOI has more. why don't you check it out.
Maybe Pasha didn't know his staff well enough! Maybe some of his subordinates did train and support the Taliban without his knowing.
When asked about the retirement of ISI chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Nisar remarked in an ironic way that an ‘Inqalabi’ (revolutionary) party has been orphaned after his retirement.
bye bye Pasha
@Babloo: Perhaps you don't know that the Pakistani Taleban do not enjoy broad based support. In fact most people in Pakistan loath them whereas in Afghanistan a large number of people in Southern and rural Afghanistan support the Afghani Taleban. Afghanistan should be represented by its people and whoever they vote for and so too for Pakistan. Religious parties never get more than a small fraction of the vote in Pakistan. That is the difference.
Pasha lied always, ISPR the same. Don't trust what they say
Good riddance... I'm glad this corrupt official is gone.
I so love this comment by Bhindian, "US has become like India".
@OBSERVER: Somebody has to show the mirror to them
Just as Afghan Taleban is fighting to play a "key role" in Afghanistan government, so is TTP fighting to play a key role in Pakistan government. Whats good for Afghanistan must be good for Pakistan too. What does Mr Pasha, who supports "key role" for Taleban in Afghanistan say ? And who is going to define what the "key role" means ?
@Naeem: hypocrisy isn't it?
the only possibility to bring peace is by getting all stake holders get out of Afghanistan and let them decide about the future. how on earth can u bring peace if majority of aghans which is pashtoons are out of assembly and whole world is backing the northern alliance which is enemy of pashtoons and talibans are frm pashtoon areas. pashtoons never surrender, revenge is in their blood either afghanistan or pakistan. the only way is by arranging tribal elders who can sit and make peace agreement and it shud be facilitated by whole world including pakistan, US, Iran, Russia, India and Nato. nobody shud use their influence that agreement shud become a constitution and for sure every body will follow that
So Mr Pasha wants Afghan Taleban to play a "Key Role" in Afghanaistan government. Then why should not Pakistan Taleban ( TTP ) not play a key role in Pakistan government ?
Must be the only photo of Pahsa that ET has --- time to find something new.
First they were bashing Pasha and now they are saying, hold on he actually meant well! Our brainless media! I always liked Pasha,he was was a cool headed,clever and professional soldier! We should use him for the betterment of Pakistan's defence.
@Balochi liberal: *hafiz saeed zindabad *
@Pakistan politics I always see u complaining about ET regarding reports,facts and figures..!! Then why are u still reading it..strange!!
This is one of those things that fall under the category of "if you're really against it, show it by saying it where your people and the world can hear it." That's no top secret information. Had it been said out loud, there would have been less negative publicity. If you say it and your people can hear it, along with the Taliban itself, it's a sort of non-official implied policy that would be picked up by others. That's if he meant it. Which is up in the air due to the after-effects of constantly lying about other things.
Liberals are now in a quandary. They are programmed to believe in Western sources, but still hate ISI and Pak Army. How will they spin this?
@Pakistan politics
It hurts when long held believes are shattered by changing realities.
true american by heart, soul and body.....
@Pakistan politics: Because truth is not even a remote possibility to be found in Pakistani resources ? Whom do you want ET to approach to ? Zaid Hamid ? or Hafeez Saeed ?
ET loves to quote and give reference of propaganda machine reports, ET dont u think it is better to get the real information and to rely on ur own resources within Pakistan, why do u always need to refer and rely to western propaganda machines??
Very interesting. That is certainly encouraging if what was meant is the same as what is actually being worked on.
This won't help paranoid Americans who still think ISI is supporting Taliban. US has become like India, no matter what you do you just cannot stop them from having nightmares about ISI.