Will ISI keep off politics?

by Syed Nooruzzaman

(November 26, Islamabad, Sri Lanka Guardian) Few commentators in Pakistan appear to be sure about the reported disbanding of the controversial political wing of the ISI. After all, the so-called disclosure has been made by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and that, too, while addressing a gathering at Multan. But if it is true they are ready to welcome it.

An earlier such attempt by the PPP-led government had to be abandoned under pressure from the Pakistan Army. However, the official explanation given was that there was some “misunderstanding” over the drafting of the notification. This is precisely the reason why there are doubts in various quarters about the latest development.

It will be more interesting if the demise of the ISI’s political arm really comes about during the regime of the PPP, the party founded by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, known for having given official sanction to the agency’s hated wing.

Reports say that the change in the ISI has the approval of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. But has it been okayed by Army Chief Gen Ashfaque Pervaiz Kiyani too? The question remains unanswered. General Kiyani’s consent is being presumed because of his drive to keep the Army away from politics.

The Daily Times asked in its editorial, “But has this really happened? … We are not convinced.” The paper then added, “After General Zia had given the ISI its orientation, it became difficult for succeeding civilian governments to control its officers.”

In a terse comment, The Dawn said: “Taken at face value, this is a commendable step in the right direction. The Inter-Services Intelligence clearly has no business meddling in politics and the democratic process. But that is precisely what the ISI has done, with varying degrees of success, since the creation of Pakistan.

“It is said that Gen Ayub used the agency for purposes other than keeping tabs on external foes while Gen Yahya relied on it to monitor opposition forces in the former East Pakistan. But it wasn’t until the iron rule of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and his Pakistan People’s Party that the ISI’s ‘political wing’ became an official entity. Under Mr Bhutto, the ISI and the dreaded Federal Security Force were used to target political opponents in clear contravention of the government’s democratic mandate.”

The paper pointed out, “Needless to say, the army’s divorce from politics must be genuine, complete and sustainable. Pulling army officers out of government jobs and officially dismantling the ISI’s political wing will be meaningless if meddling continues through unofficial channels. ”

Countering terrorism

Terrorism, though a creation of its own past policies, has emerged as the most serious concern for Pakistan today. That may be one reason why the ISI has been asked to concentrate on this threat to Pakistan’s stability.

As The News commented, “…we have to acknowledge that we (Pakistan) have never needed an effective counter-terrorism and intelligence agency more than we do today. An agency distanced from the world of politics. The disbandment of the ISI’s political wing and the reassigning of its staff to ‘other duties’ may be seen as a normalising process, a realigning of priorities and a more appropriate use of resources – but we would be wrong to assume that the ISI is ever going to take its eye off the political ball.”

The observation is understandable keeping in view the history of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s N-doctrine

President Asif Ali Zardari’s reference to Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine in the course of his video-address to the Hindustan Times Leadership Conference has led to a heated debate on the subject. The Nation found his observations “interesting”. It said “peace-loving people across the India-Pakistan divide would whole-heartedly support” some of his views while others “would raise many an eyebrow”.

When Mr Zardari talked of being “in a position to turn South Asia into a nuclear-weapons-free zone”, he had nothing new to offer. He restated the old Pakistani line of a “nuclear-free zone in South Asia”.

The Frontier Post, a respected Left-leaning daily, says, “But when was it that Pakistan had declared its nuclear prowess was for offensive purposes? It had avowedly acquired this prowess as deterrence, the capability that stood effectively demonstrated during India’s bristling 2002 border standoff. It pulled back, fearing a nuclear conflict.”

Surprisingly, the Post criticised India for the bitter history of relations between New Delhi and Islamabad. - Sri Lanka Guardian