‘Stand Up to US or Have Future Generations Deride Us’ – ISI Chief

[AstanoshKhan]

Berating General Pasha: Pakistan's Spy Chief Gets a Tongue-Lashing

The head of Pakistan’s powerful Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) offered his resignation to the country’s prime minister on Friday as he sought to defend the role of the spy agency. Lieut. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, the ISI chief, conceded that Osama bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan had been an “intelligence failure” and that he was prepared to step down and submit himself to any scrutiny, parliamentarians from both government and opposition parties told TIME on condition of anonymity. Gen. Pasha was speaking at a rare, closed-door briefing to Pakistan’s parliament where the lawmakers swore an oath not to reveal details discussed.

“I present myself to the Prime Minister for any punishment and am willing to appear before any commission personally,” Gen. Pasha said, according to the parliamentarians who spoke to TIME. “But I will not allow the ISI, as an institution, or its employees, to be targeted.” According to those present, the general offered his resignation to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, but it was neither accepted nor openly declined. “He did offer to resign, but there was no reaction,” a parliamentarian tells TIME. During the briefing, the spymaster was subject to rare and fierce criticism from opposition lawmakers. Pasha is serving the final year of a two-year extension as ISI chief. He was appointed by, and remains close to, Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Sources close to the military told TIME that Gen. Pasha had offered Gen. Kayani his resignation before the corps commanders’ meeting at military headquarters on May 5, but the army chief declined to accept it.

The ISI has been subject to rare public criticism and scrutiny since the U.S. Navy Seal raid on Osama bin Laden’s hiding place, in a compound in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad. The revelation that he had been hiding in plain sight has been a source of deep embarrassment for many Pakistanis, with some calling for “heads to roll.” The failure to locate him, and the unilateral U.S. decision to capture and kill him, has set off allegations of complicity or incompetence. While no evidence has emerged of Pakistan hiding bin Laden, the country’s military leadership has struggled to respond to the crisis as tensions have risen with the U.S.

In what lawmakers present described as an emotional speech, Gen. Pasha determinedly pushed back against suggestions that the ISI could have had any role in hiding Bin Laden. “If we had shielded Osama bin Laden, why would we have killed and arrested so many al-Qaeda leaders?” he asked with discernible indignation, according to parliamentarians. “Would we have hidden such a large target in such an exposed area? Without any guards or escape route? Our job is safeguarding the country.” The CIA, Gen. Pasha said, did not share intelligence with the ISI in the lead up to the raid.

The enduring threat posed by militants linked to al-Qaeda was on brutal display earlier in the day when two suicide bombers attacked recruits from the Frontier Constabulary paramilitary force at their training center in the volatile northwest. At least 80 people were killed, just as the recruits, who had graduated a day before, were preparing to board vans and head home for leave. The attack, which was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, was the first retaliation in the country for the slaying of bin Laden. The Pakistani security forces were being targeted, the Pakistani Taliban claimed, because they had failed to protect the country from the U.S.

During the closed-door briefing in parliament, Pasha vented his own frustration at the U.S. “We are at a point in our history,” he said, according to two parliamentarians, “where we have to decide whether to stand up to America now or have [following] generations come to deride us.” His American counterparts see Gen. Pasha as partial to recalcitrance. One senior western diplomat in Islamabad describes Pakistani spy chief as “intense,” especially in comparison to his army chief. Kayani was also at the briefing, but remained characteristically quiet throughout.

Relations between the ISI and the CIA have been in decline since December 2010, when the U.S. spy agency’s Islamabad station chief was forced to leave after his identity was exposed. At the time the CIA alleged that the ISI was responsible for leaking the station chief’s name, in retaliation for Pasha being named in a New York City case involving victims of the 2008 Mumbai massacre. Tensions rose further during the six-week standoff over Raymond Davis, a CIA contractor who had been held in Pakistan for killing two Pakistani men in February.

During an exclusive interview with TIME on Wednesday, Prime Minister Gilani said that he could see “no level of trust” between the CIA and the ISI. Gen. Pasha reinforced the observation at the briefing, when he recalled his last meeting with CIA chief Leon Panetta in April, a fortnight before the Bin Laden raid. At that meeting, Pasha said, he had told Panetta that arrangements between the U.S. and Pakistan were all unwritten, and that he had said such a situation could not go on any longer.

Pasha was the third military leader to speak before the lawmakers, and the only one not in uniform. At the start of his speech, the general, though he conceded intelligence failure, passionately defended the ISI. He argued that the U.S., U.K. and India did not ridicule their intelligence agencies after 9/11, the 2005 London subway bombings and the 2008 Mumbai massacre. In those countries, retorted Senator Pervez Rashid of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s opposition party, there is no history of military takeovers, a not unsubtle hint to the primacy of the armed forces in Pakistani politics. “There was no response from Pasha,” says a parliamentarian.

Perhaps the most popular intervention came from Javed Hashmi, a veteran from the southern Punjabi city of Multan. “We are with you,” Hashmi, who served five years in prison on trumped up charges of “subversion” against the military. “We know that you have lots of responsibilities. How about you give some of them back to us?” The light-hearted remark aroused smirks on both sides of parliament, and led to loud, desk-thumping approval.

Berating General Pasha: Pakistan's Spy Chief Gets a Tongue-Lashing - TIME

 

[sur]

I like the last part in particular...

Perhaps the most popular intervention came from Javed Hashmi, a veteran from the southern Punjabi city of Multan. “We are with you,” Hashmi, who served five years in prison on trumped up charges of “subversion” against the military. “We know that you have lots of responsibilities. How about you give some of them back to us?” The light-hearted remark aroused smirks on both sides of parliament, and led to loud, desk-thumping approval.

 

[Leader]

I like the last part in particular...

and this is the same Javed Hashmi who ISI tortured, whose neck was enchained and was asked "assembly mien tou bara bolta tha hamare ghilaf, ab bol"

 

[W.11]

and this is the same Javed Hashmi who ISI tortured, whose neck was enchained and was asked "assembly mien tou bara bolta tha hamare ghilaf, ab bol"

army is a criminal organisation, all the corrupts need to go now

 

[Leader]

army is a criminal organisation, all the corrupts need to go now

no, not the organization. WE own this institution like all other institutions of Pakistan. but yes these people who misuse their authority...

 

[T-Rex]

If he realises that It is time to stand up to the US, I would consider it as a welcome change. He must have given some advices as to how Pakistan could do it under the present circumstances, has he not?

 

[mehru]

If General Pasha is really serious then we are with you Pasha but how will you do it?

 

[Mo12]

war of words now

 

[AAtish]

I like the last part in particular...

I like that too.. but are the Politicians up for "owning" the consequences also?.. in RD and OBL operation case along with 7000 visas to non-scrutinized Americans, "democratic" govt has also let us down.. How about Political govt. giving some control back to public related for foreign policy also??

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

If General Pasha is really serious then we are with you Pasha but how will you do it?

It is not for Pasha to do, as he pointed out in parliament, it is for the elected representatives to do.

In-camera session: ISI chief shot back at ‘favour-seeking’ Nisar​

By Rauf Klasra
Published: May 15, 2011

Spy chief launched a tirade of his own after weeks of attacks by opposition leader. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:

Though he spent a large chunk of the marathon session on the back foot, besieged by politicians, the chief of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency did come out of his shell to silence fiery Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Details of Friday’s closed-door session of a special joint sitting of Parliament continue to trickle out – with some interesting nuggets of information being narrated to The Express Tribune regarding an exchange between Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha and Chaudhry Nisar.

Reported yesterday was a fiery speech by Nisar against the military establishment – but it emerged, through fresh information, that the DG ISI did not just stand there and take the tirade.

Pasha, who has been at the receiving end of a number of fiery speeches by the PML-N leader over the last few weeks, is said to have shocked Nisar by replying in the same token.

Nisar is said to have risen out of his seat for his speech right as the question and answer session was to begin. But a “visibly angry” Pasha snubbed Nisar in front of a full house.

Pasha claimed that he ‘knew’ why he was being targeted by the leader of the opposition as of late – alleging that Nisar had asked him for a personal favour, which he, as DG ISI, refused to extend.

Since then, said Pasha, Nisar had launched a number of tirades against him in particular and the military in general. However, Pasha said he would not reveal what the favour was on the floor of the august house – but would if asked outside.

An embarrassed Chaudhry Nisar was said to have been taken aback as Pasha continued with his ‘counter-attack’. The DG ISI kept on grilling Nisar, asking the PML-N leader if he knew what the effects of his recent tirades had been. Pasha told the house that on a recent trip to the US he was told by CIA chief Leon Panetta in an important meeting: ‘Look, General Pasha – how can we trust you when your own country’s opposition leader is saying that you cannot be believed?’

Pasha said that, despite having answers to all questions during that session, he did not have an answer to that question by the CIA chief.

“What should I tell the Americans?” the DG ISI asked in a bitter tone, addressing all the parliamentarians.

Pasha’s frustration seemed to be born out of an awkward moment. Pasha, besieged by the politicians, had offered to resign – and upon this offer, some members from the opposition benches shouted, “Please accept his resignation.”

The tension grew palpably when Pasha finished his counterattack. It was expected that Chaudhry Nisar, known for his hard stance and fiery speeches, would retaliate and at least refute the wild charges. But he remained seated.

It got worse for Nisar when his fellow party member, Javed Hashmi, who spent five years in jail during the Musharraf regime, got up to shower praise on the army

Interestingly enough, Chaudhry Nisar later praised the efforts of the generals.

A reality check

Lt-Gen Pasha was not the only serviceman to have his moment.

Pakistan’s deputy air chief was said to have deflated the prevalent nationalistic fervor in an emotionally-charged house as the parliamentarians were discussing the prospects of shooting down trespassing US drones.

The deputy air chief had been bombarded with constant questions by charged politicians whether or not the Pakistan Air Force was capable of shooting down intruding unmanned US aircraft.

Finally, the deputy air chief interjected: They have the capability of doing so, if asked. But, the leaders should understand the repercussions before debating this, such as a US attack.

After this analysis, when deputy air chief sought the permission of the parliamentarians to shoot USA drones, he found no takers. Sources said that, afterwards, the parliamentarians did not press the issue of shooting down drones.

CIA agents in our midst

The DG ISI also claimed in the session that the CIA was paying many important Pakistanis to protect their interests – and that the ISI had all the details of these people. However, sources said, Pasha did not identify anyone.

Where was the army chief?

There was no news of what Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was doing during the session. According to sources in attendance, the army chief was not asked a single question by charged parliamentarians during the marathon session.

However, given the length of the session, Gen Kayani, known to be a chain smoker, was seen heading to the exits at regular intervals for a quick smoke.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2011.

 

[Sinnerman108]

“I present myself to the Prime Minister for any punishment and am willing to appear before any commission personally,” Gen. Pasha said, according to the parliamentarians who spoke to TIME. “But I will not allow the ISI, as an institution, or its employees, to be targeted.”

This to me, is the best part !

Gen Pasha will not resign. He will not leave battle.
He will sacrifice in the name of his organization, but never to the enemy.

“We are at a point in our history,” he said, according to two parliamentarians, “where we have to decide whether to stand up to America now or have [following] generations come to deride us.”

This is a decision the people of Pakistan have to make.
Pasha, or the army chief alone are not enough, and unfortunately the politicians are not doing any thing to help.

“We are with you,” Hashmi, who served five years in prison on trumped up charges of “subversion” against the military. “We know that you have lots of responsibilities. How about you give some of them back to us?” The light-hearted remark aroused smirks on both sides of parliament, and led to loud, desk-thumping approval.

To think, that this SOB, is not doing his job, and getting people on the right side.
He is sitting in his feudal grands and asking for more power !

 

[pakdefender]

Ch Nisar is a is a fag , he is gay in actual life.

 

[pakdefender]

army is a criminal organisation, all the corrupts need to go now

the 'sector commanders' in karachi also need to go

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

The deputy air chief had been bombarded with constant questions by charged politicians whether or not the Pakistan Air Force was capable of shooting down intruding unmanned US aircraft.

Finally, the deputy air chief interjected: They have the capability of doing so, if asked. But, the leaders should understand the repercussions before debating this, such as a US attack.

After this analysis, when deputy air chief sought the permission of the parliamentarians to shoot USA drones, he found no takers. Sources said that, afterwards, the parliamentarians did not press the issue of shooting down drones.

That should pretty much settle the issue if where the responsibility, for allowing drone strikes to continue, lies.

CIA agents in our midst

The DG ISI also claimed in the session that the CIA was paying many important Pakistanis to protect their interests – and that the ISI had all the details of these people. However, sources said, Pasha did not identify anyone.

Hussain Haqqani (Ambassador to the US), Fauzia Wahab, Zardari, Rehman Malik, Zulfiqar Mirza ....

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

army is a criminal organisation, all the corrupts need to go now

How is the Army a criminal organization, when under Kayani the Army refused to fire on Long March protesters, and in this parliamentary briefing, made clear that any policy change towards the US needed to come from parliament, whether it be rejecting aid, shutting transport routes, shooting down drones or whathaveyou .