Pakistan’s government has recently appointed Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik as the new head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the country’s military intelligence agency. His appointment has sparked fresh debates on social media about the agency’s operations and influence.
A Look Back: ISI’s Role in Key Operations
One of ISI’s most notable actions came in 2003 when around 25 officers arrested Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the masterminds behind the 9/11 attacks in the U.S.
This arrest occurred in Rawalpindi, and the event drew international attention, with both Pakistani and foreign journalists briefed on the matter at ISI’s headquarters—a rare occurrence for the agency. While the journalists were aware of the arrest, it was confirmed that Mohammed had been captured from the home of Abdul Quddus, whose family had strong ties to the religious political party Jamaat-e-Islami.
This connection led to questions during the briefing about Jamaat-e-Islami’s potential links to Al-Qaeda and other militant groups. The ISI’s deputy director at the time denied any direct relationship between the two.
ISI’s Relationship with Foreign Intelligence Agencies
After Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s capture, ISI strengthened its collaboration with American intelligence agencies like the CIA and FBI, especially in counterterrorism operations.
Many military analysts believe that the war against militant groups wasn’t solely a military conflict but largely an intelligence-driven battle. This cooperation was particularly crucial during the post-9/11 era, with both countries working together to pursue Al-Qaeda members fleeing Afghanistan.
However, the partnership wasn’t without its challenges. Over time, political and practical difficulties began to emerge, particularly as the war on terror shifted to Pakistan’s tribal areas. For instance, peace agreements between the Pakistani government and local tribal groups complicated the hunt for Al-Qaeda members.
Even as the U.S. negotiated with the Taliban and eventually withdrew its troops from Afghanistan, intelligence-sharing between Pakistan and the U.S. remained critical.
ISI’s Structure and Influence
The ISI’s primary role is to ensure the security of Pakistan’s armed forces, as reflected in its full name, Inter-Services Intelligence. Although some civilian officers have held top positions within the ISI, the agency’s structure is overwhelmingly dominated by the military, particularly the army, though naval and air force officers are also involved.
According to German political analyst Dr. Hein H. Kiessling, who spent years in Pakistan and wrote the book ISI of Pakistan, the agency functions as a modern intelligence organization focused on gathering information.
The ISI director general serves as the main liaison with foreign intelligence agencies and military attachés in Islamabad and also acts as the prime minister’s chief intelligence advisor behind the scenes.
While Pakistan’s media and public have little information on the agency’s size or budget, estimates suggest the ISI employs around 10,000 officers and staff, not including informants who provide intelligence on their own.
Counter-Intelligence Operations: The Core of ISI’s Mission
One of ISI’s key functions is counter-intelligence, which involves monitoring and countering espionage attempts by foreign governments, agencies, or militant groups. This includes preventing sabotage, spying, and assassination plots.
Retired Brigadier Feroz H. Khan, a former high-ranking official in Pakistan’s defense establishment, highlighted in his book Eating Grass that former military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq was particularly concerned about Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.
Zia feared that a global power was on Pakistan’s doorstep, and he saw U.S. military and financial support as a double-edged sword—it would strengthen Pakistan’s economy and military but also necessitate deeper intelligence cooperation and vigilance within Pakistan.
This concern led Zia to expand ISI’s counter-intelligence capabilities, granting them more budgetary freedom and authority. At the time, much of the foreign intelligence activity in Pakistan was focused on the country’s covert nuclear program.
The Role of ISI’s Joint Counter-Intelligence Bureau (JCIB)
The ISI’s Joint Counter-Intelligence Bureau (JCIB) is its largest and most critical directorate. It oversees operations abroad, including spying on foreign diplomats, and gathering intelligence from key regions like South Asia, the Middle East, China, and the former Soviet republics. JCIB has several departments, each tasked with different intelligence-gathering roles, such as monitoring foreign diplomats or collecting political intelligence abroad.
Internal Conflicts Between ISI and the Military
Though ISI operates under the umbrella of Pakistan’s military, tensions have surfaced between the two entities.
For example, during the 1999 military coup, the ISI largely sided with General Ziauddin Butt, who Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had appointed as the army chief, which led to friction with the military leadership. Another disagreement arose when ISI launched its own media wing under General Pervez Musharraf, creating a parallel system of media control to the military’s public relations wing, ISPR.
ISI’s media arm often operates independently, occasionally leading to conflicts with the military’s PR objectives.
In conclusion, the ISI plays a central role in both domestic and international intelligence operations for Pakistan. It is a powerful institution, with deep connections to both militant groups and foreign governments, and remains a key player in shaping Pakistan’s security policies.
