Somehow, the ISI and the CIA are the two that are most demonized.

The turmoil in Pakistan’s past has led to censure of the ISI. A visible feature of the ISI’s history that has done great damage to its reputation is the continual deterioration of civilian institutions due to multiple military coups. Despite some improvements in civil-military relations in recent years, the army remains a dominant actor in Pakistan’s political makeup.

Previous abuses of power should put intelligence reform at the top of the agenda for change. Before Pakistan can continue its democratic transition, these changes must be addressed. It seems some corrections to the system have already been made; ISI has recently demonstrated a previously unseen forthrightness with both local and international media.

However, the international community continues to blame the country’s problems on the ISI, but still maintains working relations with the agency. Often, these relations undermine the democratic government and vindicate the very intelligence actors that need to be controlled. This double standard can be avoided by direct involvement with the Pakistani government, rather than going through intelligence services.

Additionally, the integration of former ISI agents into other civilian bodies, particularly the IB, should be limited or stopped. Cross-recruitment prevents organizations from becoming independent.

Pakistan also needs to strengthen the police force. A better-trained and better-equipped police force can do a better job of counter terrorism, which work is currently used by the intelligence agencies to legitimize control over politics in Pakistan.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano says that the US government is prepared to help develop Pakistan’s law enforcement infrastructure. From training police to setting up point-of-entries at Pakistan-Afghanistan borders, the US can help Pakistan using its experience regulating the US-Mexico border.

Ignoring the need to establish supremacy over the intelligence community would be a grave mistake on the part of Pakistan’s civilian government. Reducing the role of the military in the intelligence sector will allow the government to consolidate itself domestically, so it should be a top priority. In addition, government control over military and intelligence will cast a positive light on the state of Pakistan’s emerging democracy, and will improve international opinions of Pakistan.

Although reform to intelligence agencies will be difficult, the good news is that with patience, resolve, and international assistance, Pakistan’s government can indeed reassert civilian control over the intelligence community. Luckily for Pakistan, there are predecessors to take notes from. Indonesia and Chile have both undergone transformations in the intelligence arena and have plenty to offer Pakistan by way of example.

Intelligence agencies reform in Indonesia and Chile became a reality after media began exposing the atrocities and, people had the courage to reject authoritarianism. Reform of the murky Indonesian intelligence service, Badan Intelijen Negara (BIN), were spurred by revelations that emerged in the trial of the alleged killer of the country’s top human right activist.

Munir Said Thalib, died from arsenic poisoning while on a flight on Garuda, Indonesia’s national airline, from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore on Sept. 7, 2004. Indonesian media exposed the hands behind Munir’s murder.

Extensive exposure by the mass media of the massive human rights violations and power abuse by the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI), led to the abrupt breakdown in its public image. And, the abolition of “Dwifungsi ABRI” (the dual-function of the military) became a major demand of the pro-democracy movement.

In this same sense, the Pakistani media’s role is necessary to question the functioning of ISI. To cite but one example, there has been no follow-up on Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s accusations of ISI agents, kidnapping her.

In saying all this, though, we must remember not to throw out the baby with the bath water. Like any other state, Pakistan needs a strong defense system. Calling for military and intelligence reform should not be confused with anti-nationalism; we must always remember the sacrifices of those foot soldiers that valiantly put their lives on the line for their nation’s security.

This article was first published here: http://tribune.com.pk/story/19739/transform-muscle-flexing-isi-into-civil-intelligence/

Interviews in Islamabad, Peshawar and Washington DC in last two days suggest that Maulavi Faqir Mohammad, chief of Pakistan’s Taliban in Bajaur, received protection from ISI army in exchange for foreign fighters.

Our sources claim that Maulvi Faqir Mohammad was ISI’s asset in the region facilitating cross border interaction of Taliban’s and al-Qaeda.

“He provided logistical support to foreign fighters,” said a Pakistani source on the condition of anonymity.

Pakistan army Tuesday took a group of journalists for a guided tour of the area which they have captured after killing nearly fifty foreign militants.

“There were Afghans, Chechens, Egyptians, and Uzbeks,” said Major General Tariq Khan who accompanied journalists to the Damadola complex.

Reports going back to 2006 had claimed that Damadola was a key militant headquarters for Talibans and al-Qeada. Pakistan army took over this area after an offensive launched in January 2010.

When asked where Maulavi Faqir Mohammad is, Major General Tariq Khan told journalists: “we will deal with him.”

He did not elaborate ‘how’ or ‘when’ he will be dealing with Maulavi Faqir Mohammad.

American analysts, however, still commend Pakistan army for capturing a key complex of 156 caves developed over seven years, within clear view of eastern Afghanistan.

Journalists who went on this guided tour saw pillows and mattresses, which suggested terrorists had camped out for significant periods.

Major General Tariq Khan was quoted saying this is “the first time Pakistan army uniformed soldiers have arrived in Damadola and the Pakistan flag has been raised for the first time since (independence in) 1947.”

Anayslysts in Islamabad agree with Major General Tariq Khan that no ‘uniformed soldier’ ever reach Damadola but claim that ISI agents frequented the area as if it was their backyard.

In 2006, a US drone struck in Damadola to kill Al-Qaeda number two Ayman Al-Zawahiri. But Zawahiri had managed to escape.

In 2008 this area was run by an Afghan warrior Qazi Ziaur Rehman, who was in charge of administration and collected tithes from local people. However, in 2008 Maulavi Faqir Mohammad, who headed Pakistan’s umbrella Tehreek-e-Taliban faction in Bajaur was installed as the chief by ISI.

Pakistan army launched an operation in Bajaur in August 2008 and claimed victory in February 2009, only for violence to return when their focus switched to Pakistani Taliban fighters in Swat and South Waziristan.

Latest Pakistan army offensive killed 75 militants, 76 militants were arrested and 364 have surrendered.

Major General Tariq Khan told visiting journalists that Taliban “leadership does not exist. Twenty-five per cent of them have gone to Afghanistan, 15 per cent have gone back to Swat and other native areas.”

Pakistani analysts, however, are not optimistic because the key man- Maulavi Faqir Mohammad is either on a run on his own- or worst, was allowed to escape.

It is interesting that Journalists were taken on this guided tour because in December 2005 a Pakistani reporter – Hayatullah Khan who was 32 years old at that time and worked for The Nation was allegedly kidnapped by Pakistani intelligence agency and later found dead.

Reports confirm that a Pakistani intelligence officer had warned Hayatullah Khan, to leave Bajour, along the Afghan border. He stayed and reported on December 4, 2005 that a U.S. missile had killed Hamza Rabia, an al-Qaeda leader, in Miran Shah. He had photographs that showed missile parts with U.S. markings.

“The next day, Khan disappeared. His body was found June 2006, his hands still bound, the newspapers reported, with government-issued handcuffs. The government launched an investigation, but The Nation noted today that its findings have not been made public,” writes Jere Van Dyk for Carnegie Council.

“Pakistan’s military leadership has turned around and now we can see the sincerity in their action,” said a terrorism expert on MSNBC this morning.

Scot Joel, another terrorism expert on ABC Thursday morning claimed, “ISI has changed their attitude towards Quetta Shura and it is indeed a very welcome move.”

New York Times Thursday quoted a NATO commander in Afghanistan saying: “I believe that General Kayani and his leaders have come to the conclusion that they want us to succeed.”

Over all mood of American media seems to turning positive towards Pakistan with many commentators appreciating and acknowledging the leadership of Pakistani military and intelligence agencies, led by General Ashfaq Kayani and Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday told BBC that the Pakistani leadership “recognises that standing firm against the threat is important to the country’s future”.

In an interview to BBC in Saudi Arabia she said: “I would underscore, that the cooperation is increasing, and it is very valuable.” She further added: “I can express our appreciation for the increasing cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.”

Examiner reported Thursday that information provided by the recently captured Taliban second in command, Abdul Ghani Barader had led to the arrest of two additional senior Taliban leaders inside Pakistan.

Mullah Abdul Salam and Mullah Mohammed both self-proclaimed governors of two key provinces in Afghanistan were arrested by Pakistan Inter Services Intelligence, Pakistani officials have confirmed.

“These were two separate raids conducted chiefly by the ISI,” said an Intelligence source in Pakistan’s capital. He insisted that Americans may have had only ancillary role in the latest bout of success against the Taliban. “We are getting good- actionable intelligence from him,” he said referring to Barader.

Mullah Abdul Salam ran the Taliban’s shadow government in the province of Kunduz and Mullah Mohammed ran their operation inthe Afghan province of Baghlan.

Kunduz and Baghlan provinces had fallen to the Taliban but Obama administration’s re-engagement in Afghanistan seems to be yielding result. Both of these leaders had sneaked into Pakistan recently, reports suggest.

ISI, our sources claim, is on a major mission to capture the Taliban leaders that have snuck in since 2001. “Arrest of Baradar and these two governors are clear indication that ISI has turned on the heat,” said a security analyst.

Quoting American officials, New York Times reported Thursday that the Taliban’s second in command Baradar was providing a wealth of information on the Taliban’s operations. “For the past several days, he has been interrogated by both Pakistani and American officials,” report said.

In a written statement to press, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas stated that the Taliban leader was arrested 10 days ago in a joint operation by CIA and Pakistani security forces in Karachi.

The statement issued from Islamabad Wednesday said: ”At the conclusion of detailed identification procedures, it has been confirmed that one of the persons arrested happens to be Mullah Baradar,” adding, ”the place of arrest and operational details cannot be released due to security reasons.”

Yesterday Examiner had reported that the chief of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence, Lt. General Pasha approved the joint operation that led to the capture of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Karachi earlier this month.

Our source who requested anonymity claims that Americans had shared some evidence of mid-level link between ISI and Taliban. “When ISI’s leadership learned of mid level interaction they gave orders to carry out a well planned raid,” our source said.

In Washington DC, spokesperson for the State Department Tuesday said “the United States and Pakistan work closely together on security issues in combating terrorism that threatens both of our societies. We have had a close relationship with the Pakistani Government and I suspect that we will continue to work with them in pursuance of a policy that blunts the ability of extremist groups to attack both of our societies.”

Pakistan has been under pressure ‘to do more’ and some analysts are expressing cautious optimism that the country maybe ready to completely de-link itself from some factions of Taliban.

Recent American assurance that Pakistan will have a ‘seat on the table’ in Afghanistan and that the US will keep India in check has gone a long way in building confidence. American leadership has also assured Pakistani military that Washington does not want to interfere in Pakistan’s internal politics.

American and Pakistani officials have claimed that Mullah Baradar had the responsibility of over-all operation of the Quetta Shura, a faction of the Taliban allegedly based in the southwestern Pakistani city.
American security analysts claim that remnants of Taliban have coalesced and reconstituted an insurgent force in the Baluchistan city of Quetta and call themselves Quetta Shura. Pakistan has so far denied presence of Quetta Shura.

Although Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied that it was a joint operation but everyone else in the position of power has confirmed that ISI was aided by Americans in this well planned and extremely secret operation.

“Lt. Gen Pasha kept this operation very close to his chest and even those ISI agents who went on the raid didn’t know the real identity of the target,” our source said.

Our source who requested anonymity claims that Americans had shared some evidence of mid-level link between ISI and Taliban. “When ISI’s leadership learned of mid level interaction they gave orders to carry out a well planned raid,” our source said.

In Washington DC, spokesperson for the State Department Tuesday said “the United States and Pakistan work closely together on security issues in combating terrorism that threatens both of our societies. We have had a close relationship with the Pakistani Government and I suspect that we will continue to work with them in pursuance of a policy that blunts the ability of extremist groups to attack both of our societies.”

Pakistan has been under pressure ‘to do more’ and some analysts are expressing cautious optimism that the country maybe ready to completely de-link itself from some factions of Taliban.

Recent American assurance that Pakistan will have a ‘seat on the table’ in Afghanistan and that the US will keep India in check has gone a long way in building confidence. American leadership has also assured Pakistani military that Washington does not want to interfere in Pakistan’s internal politics.

American and Pakistani officials have claimed that Mullah Baradar had the responsibility of over-all operation of the Quetta Shura, a faction of the Taliban allegedly based in the southwestern Pakistani city.

American security analysts claim that remnants of Taliban have coalesced and reconstituted an insurgent force in the Baluchistan city of Quetta and call themselves Quetta Shura. Pakistan has so far denied presence of Quetta Shura.

Although Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied that it was a joint operation but everyone else in the position of power has confirmed that ISI was aided by Americans in this well planned and extremely secret operation.

“Lt. Gen Pasha kept this operation very close to his chest and even those ISI agents who went on the raid didn’t know the real identity of the target,” our source said.

Following guilty verdict several popular TV Talk Show hosts in Pakistan also questioned ISI’s role in her alleged abduction in 2003. Common sentiments were that the ‘daughter of the nation’ was arrested and handed over to the Americans.

Mention of ISI evokes several conflicting emotions – and fear for Pakistanis. Just as mentioning CIA occasionally evokes images of global conspiracy and the KGB calls gulags to mind, the ISI has come to represent political deceit in Pakistan. And, during General Pervez Musharraf’s rule as more and more Pakistanis started to disappear in thin air, ISI became more enigmatic.

But current sentiments in Pakistan are an excellent opportunity for the democratic government to restructure ISI. The turmoil in Pakistan’s past has led to censure of the ISI.

A visible feature of the ISI’s history that has done great damage to its reputation is the continual deterioration of civilian institutions due to multiple military coups. Despite some improvements in civil-military relations in recent years, the army remains a dominant actor in Pakistan’s political makeup.

Disappearance of hundreds and previous abuses of power has stigmatized ISI to point that business as usual means leading the country into absolute abyss.

Although reforming ISI will be difficult, the good news is that with patience, resolve, and international assistance, Pakistan’s government can indeed reassert civilian control over the intelligence community.

Luckily for Pakistan, there are predecessors to take notes from. Indonesia and Chile have both undergone transformations in the intelligence arena and have plenty to offer Pakistan by way of example.

Pakistan’s government must reinforce the separation between civilian and military intelligence agencies. The integration of former ISI agents into other civilian bodies, particularly the IB, should be limited or stopped. Cross-recruitment prevents organizations from becoming independent.

Pakistan also needs to strengthen the police force. A better-trained and better-equipped police force can do a better job of counterterrorism, which work is currently exploited by the intelligence agencies to legitimize their control over politics in Pakistan.

Ignoring the urgent need to establish supremacy over the intelligence community would be a grave mistake on the part of Pakistan’s civilian government. Reducing the role of the military in the intelligence sector will allow the government to consolidate itself domestically, so it should be a top priority.

In addition, government control over military and intelligence will cast a positive light on the state of Pakistan’s emerging democracy, and will improve international opinion of Pakistan.

If Pakistanis honestly consider Dr. Aafia Siddiqui “daughter of the nation,” they must demand structural changes in how ISI operates and demand their government to demonstrate political will to trace all the disappeared.

With an independent judiciary and a democratic government, Pakistan has opportunity that does not come too often. It is encouraging that the Supreme Court has resumed hearings of disappearance cases but the democratically elected government has the responsibility to immediately reveal details hundreds of missing people, and hold to account those responsible — including the country’s security and intelligence agencies.

According to the Defense of Human Rights, a Pakistani organization that campaigns on behalf of the relatives of the disappeared, out of 416 enforced disappearance cases filed in the Supreme Court since 2005, 195 cases remain pending since 3 November 2007.

It is not sufficient to vent anger against the United States alone- Pakistan must clean house first. All those responsible for selling men, women, and children like slaves must be exposed. Otherwise, this outburst of anger, national pride and bravado – statements like “we will go bring the daughter of nation back,” are meaningless, insincere and belong only on soap operas or lollywood movies.

And, the international community has a vital role to play here too. On one hand they blame Pakistan’s problems on the ISI, but still maintain close relations with the agency. Often, these relations undermine the democratic government and vindicate the very intelligence actors that need to be controlled.

This double standard must be avoided by direct involvement with the Pakistani government, rather than going through intelligence services.

Despite all the bravado of Pakistani officials implying that Dr. Siddiqui would be released, this verdict ensures that she will spend a few more decades in U.S. custody.

Sharp told reporters that her client, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was picked up by ISI on March 29, 2003 in Karachi. They arrived in two black cars and placed Siddiqui in one car and the children in another car.

Dr. Siddiqui says that she was immediately hooded and drugged and when she woke up she was tied to a gurney in a place that could not have been Karachi because the air was very dry.

Sharp also discussed the issue of the missing children. She said that the baby was reported killed during the arrest, but Dr. Siddiqui does not know if the girl, Maryam, who would now be 11 years old, is alive or not.

Dr. Siddiqui was shown a picture of her baby laying in a pool of blood.

American reporters continued to find Dr.Siddiqui’s claims incredulous and questioned Sharp on the plausibility. Do you really believe her?, a reporter asked Sharp. “Yes!”, she replied categorically.

Sharp said that a gag order was placed on the family by the Government of Pakistan, who made this a pre-condition for the release of the oldest child Ahmed. This is why no one from the family has been able to talk openly about what may have happened to her and her children for 5 years.

Many reporters have also said that a Pakistani official who frequented the proceedings and told them “off the record” that Dr. Siddiqui was actually part of an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell.

Many legal observers have questioned if there was a conflict of interest in the Government of Pakistan paying for the defense when they themselves are implicated in her kidnapping.

Dr. Siddiqui, according to her attorney, requested all her supporters not to engage in any violence in protest against the verdict.

The year of 2009 will be remembered as the deadliest year in the history of Pakistan. Nearly a hundred terrorists blew themselves up, thousands of innocent people lost their lives and thousands more were brutally injured during the year.

The statistics also show that 2009 witnessed over 33 percent more attacks than 2008. Fifty-nine bombers struck in 2008 and 56 in 2007. The number of similar attacks was seven in 2006, four in 2005, seven in 2004 and two each in 2003 and 2002.

Throughout the country 2,257 civilians and 1,004 security personnel were killed in terrorist attacks. The reported number of militants killed during the year was over 8,000.

NWFP was the worst hit – 49 suicide attacks in 2009. During the same period, 22 suicide bombers succeeded to carry out attacks in various parts of Punjab and Islamabad.

Seven suicide bombings rocked the federally administered tribal areas (Fata), while two bombers struck in Balochistan.

We could have said Sindh was the only exception- but forty people were killed and scores wounded in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on December 28^th when a suicide bomber struck country’s largest procession of Shia Muslims on the holiest day in their calendar.

January, July and September were comparatively peaceful. Nine suicide bombings were carried out across the country during the current month, nine each in October and November, four in September, six in August, four in July, nine in June, seven in May, six in April, seven each in March and February and three in January.

In the most horrendous of these bombings, 177 people, including a large number of women and children, were killed Oct 28 in a suicide attack at a crowded market in Peshawar, the NWFP capital.

The bombing at Parade Lane Mosque in Rawalpindi during the first week of December claimed the lives of several senior military officials, including a major general, two brigadiers and two colonels. The only son of the Corps Commander Peshawar was among several children of the army officers who lost their lives in this attack.

Several high-profile figures lost their lives in 2009 includes – two members of the NWFP Assembly, Dr Shamsher Ali Khan, killed in a suicide bombing in Swat last month and Mr. Alamzeb Khan,  killed in a roadside bomb attack on his car in Peshawar in January.

NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour survived a second suicide attack on March 11, which left six people including two suicide bombers dead.

Even the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency was not spared. The suicide bombers blasted a vehicle loaded with 100 kilograms of explosives near offices of the capital city police officer (CCPO) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Lahore on March 11. In the above attack 27 persons were killed and 326 others were injured. An ISI colonel and 15 police officials were among those killed.

An attack on an ISI facility in Peshawar in November killed 13 people and a similar attack in the Punjab town of Multan claimed 12 lives.

The suicide attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar on June 9 and the huge blast in Soekarno Square on October 9 were the two other deadly blasts. Over 17 people were killed and over 60 wounded in the bombing in Peshawar’s lone five-star hotel, prompting foreigners and diplomats to leave the provincial capital. The blast in Soekarno Square left over 55 people killed and many wounded. It was later removed from the list of suicide bombings, and classified as a car bomb.

On June 5, a suicide bomber killed 49 worshippers, including 12 children, at a mosque in a remote village of Dir Upper District. Dozens more were injured as a young man with explosives fastened to his body exploded minutes before the Friday gathering in the Hayagay Sharqi village.

Two successive blasts killed around 50 people and injured more than 100 at the crowded Moon Market in Allama Iqbal Town of Lahore in Punjab. The two bombs exploded with an interval of 30 seconds.

Anti-Taliban military operations began in the NWFP in April 2009- when President Zardari was in Washington DC to meet President Obama and other American representatives. Within six months the military had managed to push the militants into their strongholds in South Waziristan.

With the armed forces turning to this region in October, the suicide attacks were seen as a last desperate bid to stave off the military assault.

On September 25 the US Senate unanimously passed the revised version of the Kerry-Lugar bill to triple non-military aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion per annum, pledging America’s long term commitment to its key ally against extremism. But this backfired!

We were in New York covering President Zardari’s activities at the UN general assembly and a grand meeting with ‘Friends of Democratic Pakistan.’ President Obama announced that the Senate had passed the bill during this meeting to a thunderous applause.

But the celebration did not last long. A correspondent of an English language daily newspaper received a call from a Pakistani Brigadier- I was standing so close that I could literally hear the conversation. “Email check ker laoo. Wadi problem hay adday wich,” {check your email. There are lots of problem} the voice on the end told my peer in Punjabi. This journalist promised his caller that it will be the lead story in his paper “tussi fikar hee na karo,” {you don’t have to worry}. After he got off the phone he showed me the email on his blackberry. The rest is history. Highly paid Pakistani journalists raised hell for four weeks before completely abandoning this issue.

And, then there was the NRO fiasco! This time around the same judge who was hired to the top Supreme Court job by a military dictator decided to weaken the democratic setup. President Zardari found the ground swept away from under his feet when the Supreme Court invalidated the 2007 National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) on Dec 16. The ordinance had granted immunity from corruption charges to his slain wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, himself, along with  hundreds of politicians and bureaucrats, enabling many to return home from exile.

The NRO, issued by former president Pervez Musharraf, had scrapped all corruption cases against politicians and bureaucrats filed between January 1986 and October 1999 on the grounds that they may have been politically motivated. The court has now ruled that the cases would be restored.

The entire year of 2009 evokes distressing memories of terrorism, bloodshed, deceit and conspiracies against the people of Pakistan.

ECONOMY

Interestingly enough, 2009 was a better year for Pakistan rupees than 2008. Forex analysis website, Dollars Magazine reports that the Pak rupee weakened 6.17 percent in 2009 after losing 22.12 percent in 2008. For Pakistan, the lesser loss was the good news of 2009.

A note on Facebook from another Pakistani journalist Beena Sarwar proclaiming  that “We shall overcome” leaves me optimistic that 2010 will bring peace and stability.  But, it will take the Pakistani people to rise up and demand that all state officials and institutions respond effectively to this crisis and begin making the welfare and interests of its citizens an urgent priority.