LAHORE - Country’s leading security and defence analysts have welcomed the appointment of Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam as Inter Services Intelligence Director General, stating that he is a seasoned officer and an asset of the Pakistan Army.
Sources believed that Gen Zaheer, who had earlier served as the Deputy Director General of the ISI, has the potential to purge the supreme intelligence agency from politics.
“Gen Zaheer is the best officer, a disciplined commander, and a focused administrator who will surely make a difference” a senior officer, who once served under Gen Zaheer, said on the condition of anonymity.
Former ISI chief Lt-Gen Hameed Gul said that such changes in the military command are quite normal and that the new ISI DG, like his predecessor, would serve the country to the best of his capabilities. He said Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha confronted the dubious American designs to safeguard the national interest during his tenure when the agency was facing tough challenges.
“The new ISI DG will protect the national interests. If they (Americans) think that Gen Zaheer will accept their dictation, they are mistaken.”
Defence experts lauded the services of the outgoing Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha and said that he (Gen Pasha) played a strong inning at a time when the premier intelligence agency had been confronting multiple challenges. They said Gen Pasha took the best decision by declining to accept the government’s offer of further extension in his tenure.
Political pundits termed the appointment of Gen Zaheer as the best and timely decision, stating that the new ISI DG would focus on professional matters pertaining to the intelligence agency as the only nuclear-armed Muslim country is facing multiple threats. “Change is always for the good. ISI is not new for an officer of Gen Zaheer’s stature. He is the best for the ISI,” defence and political analyst Brig (r) Farooq Hameed Khan said.
He said Gen Zaheer is a professional soldier who would leave no stone unturned to boost up professionalism and competence of the intelligence agency. Farooq Hameed believed that Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani picked up best officer for the top intelligence agency. Analysts said the new ISI DG would definitely take bold initiatives to clear the ISI from politics as the Agency is likely to be scanned by the Supreme Court hearing in Mehrangate case. The SC is hearing a petition about the role of ISI in dishing out millions of rupees to the politicians.