Strengthening
the institutions
Mohammad
Jamil
There has been incessant criticism
on Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency ISI, and many a time efforts have
been made through sinister propaganda against it either to get it dismantled or
to limit its role. The fact remains that almost all countries of the world have
regular armies to protect their borders and to ensure stability of the country.
And invariably, all of them have intelligence agencies. However, America’s CIA,
Russia’s KGB, Indian RAW, Pakistan’s ISI and Israel’s Mossad and few others are
well known in the world. The primary
function of such agencies is to watch the country’s interest by keeping an eye
on the enemy agencies and also subversive elements that are out to harm the
country. And Pakistan is no exception. Anyhow, Pakistan does not harbor
ambitions or desires to extend hegemony over its smaller neighbors or elsewhere
in the world, whereas track record of the CIA and RAW suggest otherwise. And
ISI’s role and agenda is specific i.e. to counter the enemies’ machinations and
malicious intent. Although, enemies of Pakistan have been active long before,
but since June 2010 there is an orchestrated campaign against Pakistan, its
army and premier intelligence agency ISI by the US, Britain, India and
Afghanistan’s agencies. The so-called study by the London School of Economics
(LSE) was unveiled in June 2010; nevertheless it failed to create an impact by
its author Matt Waldman. The report had stated: “The ISI provides funding,
training and sanctuary to the Taliban in Afghanistan on a scale far greater
than previously believed”. The report also claimed that the study was based on
interviews with nine Taliban field commanders in Afghanistan between February
and May in 2010 highlighting the relationship between the ISI and the
militants. But from going through the details one could conclude that the
author himself had challenged the authenticity of the study by writing: “The
findings described below are based on interviews and cannot be conclusively
verified…It is not possible to say with certainty whether interviewees are
correct in attributing certain individuals or activities to the ISI
specifically.”
The nation is proud of the ISI for
having frustrated the designs of hostile forces and having successfully
countered the designs of international intelligence agencies including RAW,
MOSSAD, KHAD, CIA and MI6. Imperialists have in the past used Pakistan, being
intertwined in the Seato, Cento pacts and bilateral agreement with the US, to
advance their interests, but ditched Pakistan after achieving their objectives.
India has started expanding its influence in South Asia and Afghanistan, and
has been in the forefront to malign ISI and Pak Army. India partially succeeded
in promoting its narrative through selected Pakistani media houses. In this
regard senior journalist Majid Nizami commented, “Certain TV channel of
Pakistan appear to be Indians” because they tend to follow Indian narrative
during their electronic coverage. Since long Indian propagandists labeled ISI
“a state within state” while insinuating that ISI was harboring terrorists.
Domestic media instead of countering Indian allegations against ISI followed
Indian themes and launched a media tirade against ISI. Unfortunate Hamid Mir’s
episode and subsequent media campaign launched by Geo TV to malign ISI and DG
(ISI) provided an opportunity to Indian and western media to propagate against
ISI and its top leadership. Unfortunately, some Pakistani politicians and
commentriat draw sadistic pleasure while criticizing ISI without realizing that
such castigation will damage the prestige of the national institution, which is
the first line of defence against enemies of Pakistan. Anti-Pakistan forces are
trying to weaken Pakistan’s core institutions to make them irrelevant or to
destroy them, as this could lead to collapse of the state itself. Government of
Pakistan, media and civil society rejected all plots designed to tarnish the
image of the ISI. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appreciating role of ISI stated,
“Govt acknowledges the security institutions particularly role of ISI for
ensuring defence, security and peace in the country”.
This is a positive step to eulogize
the secret agency in the wake of Geo’s campaign against the ISI. Patriotic
Pakistanis feel that still much remains to be done in reinvigorating ISI, as
lethal propaganda against our spy agency is causing irreparable damage to
Pakistan. Perhaps, Pakistan needs to learn from Turkey and USA where spy
agencies have been given additional powers to protect their national interests.
President Abdullah Gul approved a law duly legislated by Turkish Parliament
expanding the powers of MIT to tap private phone talls and collect intelligence
related to terrorism and international crime. The law also offered spy agency
greater immunity from prosecution and provides for prison terms of up to 10
years for journalists who publish leaked information. This step was taken after
media leaks had embarrassed Turkish Government vis-à-vis Syrian predicament.
Similarly, at the request of US Director of National Intelligence, James
Clapper, US Senate removed a section from intelligence bill that would have
required the White House to disclose information on those killed by US drone
strikes overseas.
This has been done to provide
protection to CIA for using drones to kill combatants and noncombatants. The
sole super power USA could not afford to uncover the vulnerabilities of CIA and
therefore the legislation was lobbied to pass laws to protect their spy agency.
It is relevant to ask the human rights campaigners as to why they were silent
on Turkish legislations and Bill passed by US senators to protect their spy
agencies? The answer is simple these powers give top priority to their national
interests, whereas the media stalwarts in Pakistan openly question as to what
is national interest in Pakistan? They simply do not accept that Pakistan’s
national interests are vital and above every other interest. In this regard
media and civil society must understand that firmness of the state is directly
related to the effectiveness of intelligence agency assigned with the task of guarding
national interests. The government of Pakistan, political parties,
intellectuals, media and civil society must support ISI and reinvigorate the
ISI while countering all negative propaganda against it.
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