No political cell operating in ISI since 2008: Report
Defence secretary says US drone attacks were carried out from Shamsi airbase with government's approval.
ISLAMABAD:
Defence Secretary Lt General (retd) Asif Yasin Malik said on Monday, that the political cell of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was disbanded five years ago and no cell has been operating since, Dawn.com has reported.
Speaking at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production, Malik dispelled all rumours of any operative political cell within the intelligence agency since the past five years.
Malik added that drone attacks by the US were carried out from Shamsi airbase while it was still functioning. These drone attacks were carried out under the government’s approval, he said.
The defence secretary also presented details of the budget before the Standing Committee. Regular audits were conducted in all defense related sectors, Malik said.
He told the committee that the defense budget for the current fiscal year was Rs 545 billion — out of which, Rs 264 billion had been allocated to the Army, Rs 114 billion to the air force, Rs 52 billion to the Navy and Rs 92 billion to the ISI, the joint staff headquarter, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and defence production.
He added that the United States had paid Pakistan Rs 12 billion since 9/11 and that it had not made any payments to Pakistan over its use of Shamsi airbase.
‘Parliamentary oversight of defence spending is must’
Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said on Monday that parliamentary oversight of the defence spending is must to ensure good governance and transparency.
Briefing the media on the defence budget with the view to remove misperceptions, Senator Mushahid informed that a comparative analysis was placed before the committee during the meeting.
He said that the committee underlined the need for more transparency in the budget being spent on defence of the country.
He stated that Pakistan stands at 33rd position as far as defence expenditure is concerned, adding that it is now 2.3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
He added that the Senate Defence Committee has decided to revisit the defence paradigm and would prepare a defence policy strategy document after having input from all the stake holders.
He also sought view point of the ministry of defence in this regard so that a comprehensive document could be floated.
Correction: An earlier headline of this article was grammatically incorrect. The error has been fixed.
Defence Secretary Lt General (retd) Asif Yasin Malik said on Monday, that the political cell of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was disbanded five years ago and no cell has been operating since, Dawn.com has reported.
Speaking at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production, Malik dispelled all rumours of any operative political cell within the intelligence agency since the past five years.
Malik added that drone attacks by the US were carried out from Shamsi airbase while it was still functioning. These drone attacks were carried out under the government’s approval, he said.
The defence secretary also presented details of the budget before the Standing Committee. Regular audits were conducted in all defense related sectors, Malik said.
He told the committee that the defense budget for the current fiscal year was Rs 545 billion — out of which, Rs 264 billion had been allocated to the Army, Rs 114 billion to the air force, Rs 52 billion to the Navy and Rs 92 billion to the ISI, the joint staff headquarter, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and defence production.
He added that the United States had paid Pakistan Rs 12 billion since 9/11 and that it had not made any payments to Pakistan over its use of Shamsi airbase.
‘Parliamentary oversight of defence spending is must’
Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said on Monday that parliamentary oversight of the defence spending is must to ensure good governance and transparency.
Briefing the media on the defence budget with the view to remove misperceptions, Senator Mushahid informed that a comparative analysis was placed before the committee during the meeting.
He said that the committee underlined the need for more transparency in the budget being spent on defence of the country.
He stated that Pakistan stands at 33rd position as far as defence expenditure is concerned, adding that it is now 2.3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
He added that the Senate Defence Committee has decided to revisit the defence paradigm and would prepare a defence policy strategy document after having input from all the stake holders.
He also sought view point of the ministry of defence in this regard so that a comprehensive document could be floated.
Correction: An earlier headline of this article was grammatically incorrect. The error has been fixed.