Durrani vs. ISI

Retired Lt Gen Asad Durrani, former director-general of Pakistan's notorious intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who was one of the stalwarts of anti-India operations as head of the organization, but nowadays he has treated like a suspicious person, over alleged ties with India. Pakistan's Defense Ministry protested against Durrani's demand to be removed his name from the Exit Control List (ECL), stating that he "has been in contact with hostile elements, including the Indian Intelligence Agency since 2008.

 

It is noteworthy that Asad Durrani, who headed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency from August 1990 to March 1993, teamed up with Amarjeet Singh Dulat, former head of the Indian intelligence agency RAW, to write the book, The Spy History: Raw, ISI and Illusion of peace. After the publication of the book, it was found by the defense establishments of Pakistan that information on parts of this book affects Pakistan's national security and was in violation of the provisions of the Official Secrets Act 1923. So the Military Intelligence (MI) of the Pakistani Army wrote to the Interior Ministry to put Durrani's name on the ECL which was done in May 2018. Durrani also filed a lawsuit in Islamabad High Court (IHC) against this decision of the Ministry of Interior in 2019. In February 2019, a Pakistan Army spokesperson announced that Durrani had been found guilty of violating the military code of conduct and ordered a court inquiry against him for writing the book. And his pension and other post-retirement benefits were stripped of him by a military court.

In its para-wise remarks submitted in response to the same petition by Durrani in the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said the former ISI chief was named in the no-fly list for "his involvement in anti-state activities". The reply said that the book written by Durrani, who also served as the Director-General of Military Intelligence of the Pakistan Army in 1988, talks about opposition to Pakistan, leading to misconceptions against the country's top leadership, and create confusion.

 

In this reply, it has been said that Durrani had been in contact with hostile elements especially the Indian RAW since 2008, and though he had submitted an affidavit to the government showing his commitment to avoid such activities but never acted upon it. Ministry's reply stated, according to Rule 2 (c) of Exit from Pakistan Control rules 2010, the Federal Government has been authorized to prohibit a person from exiting Pakistan for a foreign destination if the said person is involved in terrorism or its conspiracy. , is involved in acts such as heinous crimes and threatening national security.

Along with this, the Ministry of Defense has said that the former ISI chief wants to travel abroad with the intention of participating in major international conferences and negotiations, which can have a serious impact on Pakistan's national security, which is in line with his recently published book 'Honor Among Spies 'Which is also written by Durrani as well as published through Indian publishers and some RAW supported elements.

 

But the reason for irritation from Pakistan's army is different. Durrani, along with his book, has put a big question mark before Pakistan Army on many occasions. Durrani wrote in his book 'India has not always been the biggest threat to us; the basic threat to Pakistan is more than its internal challenges.'

 

He has admitted many times that the military's intervention in the political affairs of the country is a reality, which is seriously harmful to Pakistan. At the same time, Durrani has also underlined Imran Khan's dependence on the army on several occasions. According to Durrani, the biggest problem of Prime Minister Imran Khan is that he did not come to power himself but "he came with the burden of khaki" The reason for the behavior with Durrani is better explained by this, which is directly the result of disturbing the deep state.