Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: Indian Express
Dated: July 29, 2008
The Pakistan government has abruptly backtracked
on a decision to place the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency
under the control of the Interior Ministry apparently due to pressure from
the army and President Pervez Musharraf.
The government's U-turn came less than 24
hours after an official notification issued on Saturday said the ISI and the
Intelligence Bureau were both being placed under the control of the Interior
Ministry.
The change also highlighted the delicate balance
of power between the new civilian government and the influential army. Saturday's
notification, which an official press release said was approved by Prime Minister
Yousuf Raza Gilani, said the ISI and IB were being placed "under the
administrative, financial and operational control" of the Interior Ministry
with "immediate effect". Gilani left Pakistan for an official visit
to the US the same day. As pressure from the army mounted on the government
on Sunday, an official spokesman virtually reversed the notification, saying
that the "ISI will continue to perform its functions under the Prime
Minister". The notification regarding control of the ISI was being "misinterpreted",
he said. The spokesman further said the "notification only re-emphasises
more coordination between the ministry of interior and ISI in relation to
the war on terror and internal security". He added that details would
"be clarified in a comprehensive notification".
There was confusion about the status of the
IB as the spokesman was silent on who would control the organisation.
The ISI is technically supposed to be under
the control of the PM but has traditionally functioned as a part of the influential
army.
