This was the first visit by Gen Raheel to the ISI’s head office since he took over from his predecessor Gen Parvez Kayani in November last year. PHOTO: FILE
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif paid a ‘morale boosting’ visit to the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on Tuesday after the country’s premier spy agency was implicated in the recent attack on anchor Hamid Mir.
This was the first visit by Gen Raheel to the ISI’s head office since he took over from his predecessor Gen Parvez Kayani in November last year.
A security official told The Express Tribune that the army chief’s visit was not only meant to acknowledge the ‘unsung heroes’ who laid down their lives for the country but also to show solidarity with the ISI at a time when questions are being raised about its role.
The official, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said that Gen Raheel made it clear that no one would be allowed to undermine the role of ISI. “All attempts to discredit and malign the institution will be foiled,” the official quoted the army chief as saying.
The official also disclosed that ISI Director General Lt. Gen Zaheerul Islam, while giving a briefing to the army chief, conveyed his serious concern over what he called ‘deliberate camping’ by certain elements against the spy agency.
The ISI is in the eye of the storm after Hamid Mir’s brother blamed the agency for Saturday’s attack in Karachi. The chief military spokesperson has already issued a strong rebuttal to the allegations and called for an impartial inquiry.
However, another official voiced his concern over reluctance from the civilian authorities to defend the ISI, which theoretically reports to the prime minister.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on his arrival at the headquarters, the ISI chief received Gen Sharif. “He was given a detailed briefing on internal and external security situation of the country,” said the statement.
The army chief appreciated the ISI’s role towards national security and lauded the contributions and sacrifices of its officers and men towards strengthening the defence of the motherland, according to the statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2014.
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Ours is a very emotional society. Pakistani's have to learn how to communicate rationally without emotion. I think this is one of our challenges. It is a skill we have not learnt. Look at the way the Brits and Americans talk to each other, then look at how Pakistani officials communicate. Look at our T.V. comperes how they communicate and conduct an interview, a program, and then look at BBC how they conduct themselves. There is a world of difference. Our culture, values, language, mindset is an open secret. The above article is essentially about lack of communication skills. One party blames another party ( albeit a very important party) without proof. This is how we as Pakistani's have been conducting ourselves for many years. The other party is expected to refute, otherwise is considered guilty. This is essentially the mindset. We talk without thinking, we do not evaluate what we hear, much of what we say is so much emotion that gist of the subject matter is of least importance. This skill in communication is important when leadership, politics, negotiations is concerned, this is where we are losing out to India, who have much better negotiators, the Indians have allways been more craftier, shrewd, we just know how to spill our beans, into the public domain for others to pick up the pieces.
There is no such thing as bad publicity, ISI. Keep doing your job. GEO's days are numbered.
@Nadir: Just because the paper writes it you say they are demoralized? Nossir! Frankly, they have been receiving the rough end of the tongue for several years, which is inequity. Yes, in the case of OBL and Abbottabad, were they really unaware??? A denial with a pinch of salt will add to the flavor. Finally, the Army is a zillion times better than these paindoo politicians who are brazenly and blatantly disrespecting the Constitution. If Musharraf were in power the Tharis would not have suffered and the Sindh Flood Victims of 2010 and 2011 would have been rehabilitated. Salams
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Push the Jumbo, its about time we gotten rid of GEO and Junk group for good. Push them across border and then lets us all see how many stories they print and how many programs they run against Indian army and their intelligence on their genocide in Kashmir, Samjohta express massacre, Siachen occupation. Seems their proclaimed freedom of speech exists only in Pakistan.
If a few statements can damage the morale of the ISI, how are they going to fight a war?