Word: isis
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...organization in Pakistan rivals the influence of the ISI, according to analysts. Lieut. General Hameed Gul, a former director-general of the agency, describes it as a "highly professional and disciplined institution." Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, alleges that "the Pakistan army, through its intelligence agencies, is the principal abuser of human rights in Pakistan." And there is evidence in support of both claims...
...During the cold war, the ISI served as the key intermediary for channeling covert U.S. support to the mujahedin fighting the Soviets in neighboring Afghanistan. Some of these fighters were recruited and trained directly by the ISI, and the organization later helped bring the Taliban to power to end the intra-mujahedin fighting that followed the Soviet withdrawal. The ISI also built intimate links with indigenous jihadist groups, through which it fought a proxy war against India in disputed Kashmir. In domestic politics, the intelligence organization has been accused of rigging elections, intimidation and even overthrowing governments...
...party targeted by ISI interventions in domestic politics has been the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto - and of Gilani. Lieut. General Asad Durrani, a former director-general of the ISI, said in a BBC interview earlier this year that he had taken personal responsibility for "distributing money to the alliance against Benazir Bhutto" during the 1993 election. "After seeing the period that she had ruled, I thought it would be better if the lady did not come to power," he said. On Saturday, Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, welcomed the move...
...many in Pakistan believe the move had come in response to U.S. pressure. "Failed coup against ISI was to appease U.S.," read one local headline. "They wanted to please Washington," said former spymaster Gul. "It misfired and became a boomerang to hurt them." The PPP did not help its case by the manner in which it proceeded. Neither the parliament nor the coalition's junior partners were consulted. And in choosing to cede control of the ISI to Rehman Malik, the effective Minister of Interior, instead of tightening his own grip, Gilani was left looking weak...
...Washington has certainly grown increasingly agitated in recent weeks over the activities of the ISI. Last week, the U.S. demanded that Pakistan investigate charges by the governments of Afghanistan and India that the ISI had been involved in the recent bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul. And the New York Times reported Wednesday that CIA deputy director Stephen R. Kappes had met with senior officials in Pakistan to confront them with evidence purporting to show that elements in the ISI has been working with the network of Taliban commander Jalaluddin Haqqani...