ISI under the microscope
Of late there has been much questioning the role of the ISI in the “war on terror”. In the face of continued resistance in Iraq and the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the “coalition of the willing” finds themselves in a tight corner. Like a drowning man clutching at straws, NATO generals from 5 countries have started blaming Pakistan for the heavy hits that they are taking in Afghanistan.
It seems no matter how hard Musharraf tries, he keeps falling short of the miracles that are expected of him. Joining in the bash-all-things-Pakistani fad are the Indians who are blaming the Mumbai train bombings (what they refer to as “7/11” – appealing to American sensitivities?) as a handiwork of the ISI. While Pakistan has been continually asking India to share evidence with it of any such findings, the Indians seem disinterested. Now the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, is going around “sharing" thesefindings with the EU and the US!
Is there a case being made to include Pakistan as an adversary in the “war on terror”? Perhaps it’s too early to comment, but the stars don’t augur too well for the Pakistanis. Musharraf has vehemently rejected calls todismantle the ISI going out of his way in defending the ISI - the pivotal role it had played in defeating the communist USSR; capturing hundreds of Al-Quaida operatives; and unearthing terrorist plots such as the recent trans-Atlantic terror plot. Yet all his calls seem to be falling on deaf ears and now the push is getting to some serious shoving!
What aim can the West have in dismantling the ISI? My take on the matter is that the dismembering of the ISI is a key first step in rolling back the nuclear program of Pakistan. It is no secret that there are very few takers who trust Pakistan with nuclear weapons. It doesn’t help when people like Musharraf admit proliferation at the governmental level. Who has ever questioned how nuclear technology was proliferated outside of the US!? Moreover, the Intelligentsia of a country acts as a “firewall” to outsiders who may have sinister designs. Once this ring of protection is breached, then the possibilities are endless as to what can be done to the capabilities of a military.
We live in interesting times and Musharraf finds himself in the middle of it all! He is known to make U-turns on the slightest hint of pressure. Can he sustain this latest onslaught? To his credit, he has cut-off Western watchdogs from gaining access to Dr. A Q Khan. Only time will tell if he can stay his ground on this one.
It seems no matter how hard Musharraf tries, he keeps falling short of the miracles that are expected of him. Joining in the bash-all-things-Pakistani fad are the Indians who are blaming the Mumbai train bombings (what they refer to as “7/11” – appealing to American sensitivities?) as a handiwork of the ISI. While Pakistan has been continually asking India to share evidence with it of any such findings, the Indians seem disinterested. Now the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, is going around “sharing" thesefindings with the EU and the US!
Is there a case being made to include Pakistan as an adversary in the “war on terror”? Perhaps it’s too early to comment, but the stars don’t augur too well for the Pakistanis. Musharraf has vehemently rejected calls to
What aim can the West have in dismantling the ISI? My take on the matter is that the dismembering of the ISI is a key first step in rolling back the nuclear program of Pakistan. It is no secret that there are very few takers who trust Pakistan with nuclear weapons. It doesn’t help when people like Musharraf admit proliferation at the governmental level. Who has ever questioned how nuclear technology was proliferated outside of the US!? Moreover, the Intelligentsia of a country acts as a “firewall” to outsiders who may have sinister designs. Once this ring of protection is breached, then the possibilities are endless as to what can be done to the capabilities of a military.
We live in interesting times and Musharraf finds himself in the middle of it all! He is known to make U-turns on the slightest hint of pressure. Can he sustain this latest onslaught? To his credit, he has cut-off Western watchdogs from gaining access to Dr. A Q Khan. Only time will tell if he can stay his ground on this one.
posted by al-republican at 9:36 AM
25 Comments:
i think the outside world sees the ISI as something of a stronger than the govt agency which pakistani leadership itself cant control... on the contrary it controls the leadership.
And the ISI perhaps is also viewed as having the will to go overseas (and not only INDIA) and do its bidding.
Ofcourse Pakistan should only do what it wants and not even allow anyone to question its internal agencies or security structure.
AD
alay?
1 comment only and that too mine!
Musharraf bhai like all pakistanis completely understands the importance of ISI. Its capabilities have been proven many times -internationally.
These things are bound to come up when pakistan is favoured by the US at levels never seen. Look at the irony of it all, blaming the ISI for fallbacks whereas you can really not do anything about it, cause you need them to be involved, as tour guides to afghanistan.
As far as India is concerned, any blind person could have said who they would blame-- from a political perspective it keeps the people happy.
Allah pe Imaaan hai ISI hamari Shaan hai...Musharraf bhai let it pass through your ears, hah!!
Hahaha Don!!
You always come up with really classy slogans! Typical Pakistani bhai :P
How do i become a member of ISI ?
Just deposit 5,000 dirhams a month in my bank account, creation.
Account Number ?
How do i become a member of ISI ?
get ur self a sheep, a friend with CHILLING experience and have tribal fun and dance with al republican
just 5000 dhs? one sheep cost much less than that. y u overcharge?
Al Pashtuno, are you on Drugs ??
yes, i bought some from poppy farmer al republican before he became an armchair terrorist.
the ulitmate creation, msiter creation
Al Pashtuno, stop watching Cartoon Network!
creation stop watching political porn on PTV
What lovely and mature comments you have here.
Anonymous-
Unfortunately, I have a maniac following me like a shadow. I actually dont mind him commenting here because it adds to the marketing of this space :P
*Is innocent*
Okay, now why in the world is this al pashtuno using my identity ?!?! :/
Thanks Al-Pashtuno :)
Creation, sorry, but it seems Al-Pashtuno likes you :P
Exactly how is it creditable that the Western 'watchdogs' are denied access to AQ Khan - the man who sold nuclear weapons to all and sundry, including the very non-Muslim North Korea?
Marwan-
It is no secret that countries proliferate nuclear technology if slapped by sanctions. Pakistan firstly is NOT a signatory of the NPT, plus it was slapped by crippling sanctions since the early 80's that led to such profileration.
America has still not learned its lesson; they are going to cripple North Korea with FURTHER sanctions that will surely lead to more profileration in the entire region.
Lastly, have you even wondered how Nuclear technology was PROLIFERATED outside of American borders? How did the UK get this technology? How did Israel get it? Clearly, the American have been proliferating this technology at will. Sadly, I am at a loss to explain how this FACT is not known by "all and sundry"! I hope you knew this fact? It's not too hard if you try to question your intellect!
American foreign policy is all about hypocrisy and it is glaringly hypocritical in the case of Nuclear proliferation!
So by your reckoning, every nation should be handed a nuclear weapon gratis "because everyone else has one"? What say we hand one over to the militias in Darfur and see how they get on, eh?
This isn't about being fair. These are NUKES, not tanks and rockets. No one should have them but it's a fact of life that they exist. The nations that do possess them have demonstrated that they won't use them again, even in times of war - otherwise Vietnam and Iraq would be glowing embers now.
I personally have no problem hanging AQ Khan out to dry. The man sold nuclear bombs like lollipops for the sole purpose of personal enrichment. He didn't care what those weapons might do some day, didn't care that millions of people might die one day because of his greed.
I hope the cancer eats at his soul for a very, very long time.
Marwan-
You completely missed the point I made. No, I do not think every nation in the world should be served the Nuclear bomb on a platter. My point is that technology as such is profileratable (if thats even a word!) inherently! From gunpowder to inter-ballistic missiles - all of these technologies have been proliferated one way or another and most countries find themselves capable of indigineously producing such weaponry. The Frankenstein has been created and it is out of control already.
Nuclear technology will be proliferated and not because people want to nuke one another, but because nukes now act more as deterrants. Every nation that has the capability to (1) produce such WMD; (2) and has the capability to deliver it into the heartland of the enemy has pretty much made sure that there will be no adventures by its enemies on its territory. That is precisely why North Korea went ahead with developing both these technologies!
Also, no one buys into the reasoning that the Western powers have shown their maturity in not using Nuclear weapons! If they are so mature and wont EVER use it, then pray tell us why do they continue to stockpile it?!? They also do continue to use low-grade nuclear weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please check out these facts with Amnesty International. You can check out their website. Also, America has created the Hydrogen Bomb that is more destructive than the Atomic Bomb!
Do you really think Dr. AQ Khan did all this proliferation single-handedly?!? And that he did it for personal wealth?? This might be a good plot for an Indian film, but believe me, friend, real life isn't that easy! There is more to this story than meets the eye and what Musharraf narrates. All the Intelligentsias in the World know the real deal and this can of worms will be opened as and when will suit the hawks in the West. Stay tuned!
Finally, nukes could still be safe in the hands of Sudani tribes or the North Koreans. But, there is one state that would not think TWICE to use nuclear weapons against anyone. That state is the Jewish state of Israel! If you have any worries, Marwan, then it should be centered towards Israel's stockpile (that was given to it by open proliferation by the US and UK). The state of Israel's nukes are the REAL threat to humanity and make no mistake, they give 2 hoots about waht the World thinks. To compound our worries, they also have a sympathetic audience in the "Free World" who are willing to standby no matter what stupid thing they do (like their misadventure in Lebanon recently).
Ponder over these points I make.
You're contradicting yourself. You don't think every nation should have a nuclear weapon, yet argue that it's inevitable that every nation will have one eventually. Tres Difference?
No major power - not even during the Cuban missile crisis - has authorised the use of nuclear weapons. There's your proof right there. Post-Cold War, they have made attempts to curtail their stockpiles (you can't just throw them away, y'know) and prevent further proliferation.
America created the Hydrogen bomb! Whoopee! Alfred Nobel created dynamite which is worse than a punch in the face! What the hell is your point?
AQKHan didn't do *shit* singlehandedly. He set up a vast global nuclear black market, with the help of certain Pakistani government officials. He's something of a hobby of mine so I wager I know a good bit more about him than just about any blogger out there. There's no conspiracy mate - just one greedy fat man and his friends, including some very prominent people in Dubai.
Nukes safe in the hands of Sudani tribeS?! After they wholesale slaughtered each other? And you really think they wouldnt hesitate to use a weapon that could kill a millionfold more effectively?
But somehow Israel is more irresponsible, despite never having used a nuclear weapon. Yes, they are the real threat! To only the Palestinians and occasionally the errant Lebanese, two peoples I would have little remorse for if they were wiped off the face of the earth, based on the trouble they have wrought recently.
Marwan-
You make yourself very clear. You want 2 races to be wiped off, which is a step uglier than what Ahmadinejad said!
At least he just wants the state of Israel to be wiped out and not the Jewish race. I see more hate emanating from you.
Cheers!
This marwan feller is nuts.
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