Editorials in Pakistani Dailies Examine Report about the U.S. Officials' Classification of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as a Terrorist Organization

Citing revelations by the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks, international media reports recently noted that Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which works within the Pakistani military and reports to the Pakistan Army chief, has been classified by the U.S. officials as a terrorist organizations for its support to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. While the ISI's support to various terrorist groups, including the Sunni jihadist organizations based in Pakistan's Punjab province, has been discussed in the Pakistani and international media over the years, the new revelations are being seen in Pakistan as the West targeting the ISI.

On April 27, 2011, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani asserted that the ISI is working with the government's consent.[1] His statement came after WikiLeaks revealed that a secret 2007 U.S. list of "terrorist and terrorist support entities" listed the ISI alongside some 70 other groups, including Iranian intelligence, Hamas, and the Taliban. A day earlier, on April 26, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik also rejected the WikiLeaks report, stating "The ISI is being wrongfully defamed internationally."[2] Malik added: "The ISI is not and has never been involved in politics... The ISI is a patriotic organization which has a huge role in combating terrorism. Those who are trying to bring the ISI into disrepute will never succeed in their design."

On April 27, two days after the WikiLeaks revelations were first reported in the international media, a number of Pakistani newspapers wrote editorials on the issue. While some editorial writers saw the new revelations as targeting of Pakistan's ISI by the West, others were cautious in their tone and language. Some of the editorials noted that if there are "rogue elements" in the ISI, the Pakistani military or the government should act against them. It should be noted that it is not easy for Pakistani leaders or editors to openly criticize the ISI, which is thought to be virtually ruling over Pakistan.

In an editorial titled "Fresh Leaks," the liberal Dawn newspaper noted that much of these revelations are in fact "reconfirmations," and come in the wake of the recent mistrust between the ISI and the CIA. The Lahore-based liberal newspaper Daily Times, in an editorial titled "ISI In the News," also argued that the revelations spotlight tensions between the ISI and CIA. It added: "Admiral Mike Mullen, on his… [April 20th] visit [to Pakistan], weighed in with his take on the ISI's connections with the Haqqani Network (believed to have relations with Al-Qaeda) being the main problem in the relationship. Our military and security establishment in turn has stoked and later relied on public sentiment against the free run given to the CIA and drones by the Musharraf regime in a transparent attempt to renegotiate the terms…."

In an editorial titled "WikiLeaks and the ISI," The Express Tribune newspaper commented on the ISI's relationship with the militants, stating: "From General Hamid Gul to General Mahmud, the ISI has been led by a number of chiefs who thought differently of Al-Qaeda from the ordinary Pakistani. The chiefs of the ISI who were not of the same mold, too, have not seen eye-to-eye with America because of a mismatch of policies over India. Secular chiefs such as [former Pakistan Army chief] Aslam Beg and those seen by many to be sympathetic to the cause of the militants, such as Hamid Gul, both types have always cautioned the Pakistani nation against being friendly with America." In an editorial titled "The Revelations," The News daily stressed that Islamabad and Washington need to work together and added: "Very little of what is revealed is 'new news.' The alleged presence by one or more representatives of our intelligence agencies at a meeting chaired by [Taliban leader] Mullah Omar and said to have been held in Quetta [the capital of Pakistan's Baluchistan province] was reported over a year ago, and denied."

"Another Spurt of WikiLeaks And We Have a Reconfirmation of Much of What has been Already Revealed [about the ISI and ISI-CIA Mistrust]"

Following are excerpts from the Dawn editorial:[3]

"Another spurt of WikiLeaks and we have a reconfirmation of much of what has been already revealed. We are living in far more open times since the original leaks last year, and consequently the mutual suspicion with which the ISI and the U.S. have eyed each other has been quite well documented in the media. This new wave of leaks would have been significant even without the generous nuggets of information the public has been served in recent weeks with regard to the uneasy, in fact tense, relationship between the U.S. and the [Paksitani] spy agency.

"The other details in the new leaks are as much corroborative, and constitute additional evidence of America's own flawed tackling of the war on terror – in particular, the treatment meted out by the U.S. to Guantanamo inmates.

"All the stories based on the fresh leaks that appeared in Dawn on Tuesday contain references to the force and torture that the Americans had applied to extract confessions. The infamous waterboard technique has got many mentions and it has been pointedly stated that many of the inmates had spoken 'under duress.' On their part, the leaks do speak of 'plans' as horrendous as one to set off a nuclear bomb in Europe in case Osama bin Laden was caught, to target Heathrow and Canary district in England, and to hijack an Australian plane; the veracity of all these 'schemes' severely challenged by bits about the blundering ways of desperate interrogators.

"The facts about the detainees kept at the infamous Guantanamo Bay are not just mind-boggling, they are soul-scarring. That suspects – Pakistanis, Afghans, drivers, farmers, chefs, et al – were detained in Guantanamo on the basis of 'often seriously flawed' information – is nothing less than scandalous and will probably lead to greater anger against Washington in the country. Nevertheless, these disclosures also provide the impetus for louder calls for reason to prevail. There is plenty of information about how various actors have gone about this war. This is not an occasion for a display of arrogance but a moment for offering some much-needed explanations."

"These Revelations… Shine the Spotlight On, and May Help Explain, the Current Trust Deficit between the Intelligence Agencies of Pakistan and the U.S."

Following are excerpts from the Daily Times editorial:[4]

"Secret files and documents held in the Guantanamo Bay detention center and obtained by the Guardian and New York Times show the U.S. authorities' view of the Pakistani ISI in a poor light. These files and documents are said to have been obtained by famous whistle-blower WikiLeaks between 2002 and 2009, but at least the Times claims it received them from a different source. Whatever the source and acquisition route, these two prestigious newspapers have put the cat among the pigeons by publishing the U.S. authorities' assessment dating from 2007 that the ISI deserved to be ranked alongside such long-time enemies described as terrorist organizations as Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"Since some (if not most) of these files relate to the notorious Guantanamo Bay detention facility, it needs to be noted that interrogators at Guantanamo Bay were instructed to treat association with the ISI as a justification for detaining prisoners in the facility since ISI had been classified as a 'terrorist support entity.' The ISI joins the organizations mentioned above as well as Iranian intelligence amongst 32 groups on the list of 'associated forces,' defined as 'militant forces and organizations with which Al Qaeda or the Taliban has an established working, supportive, or beneficiary relationship for the achievement of common goals.'

"Although these revelations date from a U.S. authorities' assessment of four years ago, they shine the spotlight on, and may help explain, the current trust deficit between the intelligence agencies of Pakistan and the U.S., a deficit that has by now eroded even the close military-to-military ties between the two countries. The spat between the ISI and American CIA broke out over the Raymond Davis affair and escalated over the drone attacks in FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Paksitan], which the Pakistani authorities say cause collateral damage in unrelated civilian deaths, which in turn produce pressures on the government."

"Admiral Mike Mullen… Weighed in with His Take on the ISI's Connections with the Haqqani Network (Believed to Have Relations with Al-Qaeda)"

"Despite the relationship between the two sides being a symbiotic one, in which nether can part from the other without incurring negative consequences, the two issues of CIA operatives having the run of the land and the drones the run of the tribal areas have come to a head, provoking a rare candor from both sides. Admiral Mike Mullen, on his recent [April 20] visit, weighed in with his take on the ISI's connections with the Haqqani Network (believed to have relations with Al-Qaeda) being the main problem in the relationship. Our military and security establishment in turn has stoked and later relied on public sentiment against the free run given to the CIA and drones by the Musharraf regime in a transparent attempt to renegotiate the terms...

"Why this is so critical at this moment is because all stakeholders are seeking to position themselves favorably for the endgame in Afghanistan. Who will sup with whom in what pecking order at Kabul's moveable feast is likely to loom large over the present course of events.

"While the ISI is maintaining a meaningful silence over the Guantanamo files, it and the military establishment to which it reports came in for a bit of stick from an unexpected source within the country. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali came out all guns blazing on the floor of the house against the ISI and military establishment, accusing them of orchestrating the activities of 'test-tube' politicians (a pointed reference to Imran Khan and his recent caravan march to Peshawar against the drone attacks). He went on to claim his party, the PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif], had also been approached by these forces [i.e. the ISI] but had refused to go along with any agenda of destabilization of the present dispensation or even any role for the military in politics.

"This diatribe from a political worthy, known to be close to the military establishment, acquires added significance and weight. Partly of course, Nisar was attempting to deflect criticism against him for meeting… [Pakistan Army chief] General Kayani, but partly it was a broadside against the forces the PML-N believes were directly responsible for all they had to go through since the military coup in 1999. Nisar's charge of the intelligence services and military establishment indulging in their usual bag of tricks was responded to by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The prime minister agreed to address the concerns of the opposition leader if he could present substantive proof. The question though remains: do the political forces have the will to restrain the powerful intelligence services and military establishment?"

"It Seems WikiLeaks will Do More Damage to U.S.-Pakistan Relations Than had been Earlier Estimated… The Link Between ISI and Terrorist Organizations has Not been Established…"

Following are excerpts from The Express Tribune editorial:[5]

"It seems WikiLeaks will do more damage to U.S.-Pakistan relations than had been earlier estimated. The latest batch of secret U.S. documents circulated among the top institutions in Washington say that America began suspecting the ISI of playing a double game while Musharraf was in power. They report that a number of 'Guantanamo detainees confessed to working with the ISI and the Pakistani military in facilitating al Qaeda and the Taliban.'

"The link between ISI and terrorist organizations has not been established by evidence beyond doubt. Most allegations do not have corroborative evidence. And most of the instances mentioned in the cables date back to 2003-2007, before there was a change of command in the country.

"However, by 2007, the year Musharraf was deposed, the U.S. had listed the ISI among 36 terrorist groups and it is likely that it is still listed in the current Threat Indicator Matrix of the U.S. Earlier this year, suspicions that the CIA was running a network of agents in Pakistan became a reality, with the arrest of Raymond Davis in Lahore. The CIA and ISI, post-Davis, have got their two governments at loggerheads in the months before the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"Director-General ISPR [Inter-Services Public Relations Department of Pakistani military] Major-General Athar Abbas has been cautious and, when queried, has asked for an official stamp of U.S. ownership of the 'leak.' His response was measured and correct: 'It appears to be an effort at instigation. We will not issue official statements on documents that we do not know the authenticity of. Let the Pentagon comment and then we will see.' The truth is that, after U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen's remarks accusing the ISI of being involved with the Haqqani Network a few days earlier in Islamabad [on April 20], the stamp of authority – some would say arrogance – is almost there. If and when more corroborative assertions come officially, it will be time for Pakistan to decide on the next step."

"No One in Pakistan is Going to Offend the ISI… But if Any Rogue Elements [in ISI] are Involved with the Militants, They must Be Stopped By the Government or the Military"

"Bits and pieces of evidence had been piling up in the past, including facts in the latest indictment of two Pakistani American nationals, David Headley and Tahawwur Rana, at a Chicago court, along with four Pakistanis in Pakistan (one linked to the army) involved in 'pre-operation' spying in Mumbai before the 2008 terrorist attack. The Americans have never minced words over their finding that Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was involved in the attack. They have consistently demanded the banning of the successor outfit, Jamaatud Dawa [the charity arm of Lashkar-e-Taiba]. Pakistan has resisted the ban and Interior Minister Rehman Malik has admitted that the prosecution of the LeT men being tried in Pakistani 'has been slow.'

"From General Hamid Gul to General Mahmud, the ISI has been led by a number of chiefs who thought differently of Al-Qaeda from the ordinary Pakistani. The chiefs of the ISI who were not of the same mold, too, have not seen eye-to-eye with America because of a mismatch of policies over India. Secular chiefs such as [former Pakistan Army chief] Aslam Beg and those seen by many to be sympathetic to the cause of the militants, such as Hamid Gul, both types have always cautioned the Pakistani nation against being friendly with America. Just as the Americans equate ISI with Hamas, Pakistani officials have often accused the CIA of working in tandem with Mossad and RAW. What has been a covert spy war under the garb of friendship now threatens to come out into the open. No one in Pakistan is going to offend the ISI. The opinion is going to be overwhelmingly in favor of cutting off ties with America. But if any rogue elements are involved with the militants, they must be stopped by the government or the military.

"Imran Khan [a Pakistani politician now supposedly enjoying ISI's patronage] has sent another cannonball across the American bow: after one month, he and his anti-drone tribal processions are going to stop NATO supplies from reaching Afghanistan. This is Pakistan's challenge - that America needs it more than it needs America, despite the steep economic downturn predicted for Pakistan, including a plummeting [Pakistani currency] Rupee and a manufacture breakdown accompanied by the collapse of law and order. TV channels are already accusing mainstream political parties of being less enthusiastic about the drone row. This is correct: The parties with chances to rule Pakistan don't want to escalate the ISI-CIA crisis to a point of no return."

"The Alleged Presence by One or More Representatives of Our Intelligence Agencies at a Meeting Chaired by Mullah Omar … was Reported Over a Year Ago, And Denied"

Following are excerpts from The News editorial:[6]

"The leakers have been busy again, this time releasing files relating to Guantanamo detainees – as well as having some interesting things to reveal how the U.S. looks at our intelligence services. There have been many books, articles, and reports appearing over the past few years which act to expose a rather frightening degree of American naiveté while dealing with problems around the world, and especially the war against militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This consistent foolishness, lack of clarity, and reluctance to hear other views is one of the reasons why we find ourselves floundering in murky waters today.

"However, even knowing all this, the revelation, published in The Guardian that in a September 2007 document the U.S. lists the ISI among 36 'terrorist' organizations alongside Al-Qaeda, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the Lebanese Hamas [sic] and Hezbollah outfits, the Iranian intelligence networks, and groups based in Chechnya or elsewhere, is a bit too much. It does not take an expert to work out that as an entity the ISI has nothing in common with outfits such as Islamic Jihad or Hamas. It is set up along very different lines, follows military discipline, and since 2009 in particular has played a key role in battling militancy.

"The UK paper also suggests that even now, with the Bush era over, the ISI remains on the U.S. 'threat matrix' and is believed by Washington to be supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan. Very little of what is revealed is 'new news.' The alleged presence by one or more representatives of our intelligence agencies at a meeting chaired by Mullah Omar and said to have been held in Quetta was reported over a year ago, and denied.

"What does seem to have substance, though even here we should not allow the frequency of reporting to assume the status of a full-fledged fact, is the assertion that there are 'rogue elements' within our agencies that can and do pursue their own agendas. All of the allegations relating to this are historical, many of them dating back almost 10 years, and there is little by way of corroboration. Many premises on which the reports are based seem badly flawed – stemming from over-active imaginations rather than facts.

"What appears to have happened is that the Americans developed a 'mindset' in respect of our agencies, and then applied that as a blanket value-judgment to our entire intelligence network – a considerable generalization not conducive to a harmonious or trusting working relationship. The revelations will place a new obstacle in the way of restoring the broken ties between the U.S. and the ISI which have yet to be restored after the unpleasant Raymond Davis affair. This degree of distrust for a key ally in the war on terror can hardly help defeat the militants. To do so, Islamabad and Washington need to work together. The hostile tone adopted in the files revealed and the continuation of the same attitudes under [U.S. President Barack] Obama, as appears to be the case, are hardly likely to help matters along."