Pakistan's prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, left, has the nominal power, but Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, right, has the real clout.
Pakistan's prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, left, has the nominal power, but Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, right, has the real clout.
Pakistan's prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, left, has the nominal power, but Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, right, has the real clout.
Pakistan's prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, left, has the nominal power, but Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, right, has the real clout.

Pakistan army gets its choice for spy chief


  • English
  • Arabic

ISLAMABAD // The one-year extension given to the chief of Pakistan's powerful spy organisation last week is being seen as a sign of the army's continuing influence over a weak civilian government and ensures that its current regional and domestic policies will continue unimpeded. Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence directorate (ISI), is a confidant of the army chief, Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, who has sought to keep Gen Pasha by his side as Pakistan battles a Taliban insurgency.

The prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, announced the extension in a brief statement on Wednesday, but the act was seen as being forced on the civilian leadership by the army. According to the Pakistani constitution, the authority to appoint the ISI chief rests with the prime minister, but the current civilian government has had a turbulent relationship with the powerful military and the intelligence service.

The chief of the intelligence service carries a certain mystique given the absolute power that accompanies the post. The ISI chief is second only to the army chief in terms of power and clout. Any attempt by the political government to have a spy chief of its own choice and liking would have backfired, according to Pakistani defence analysts. Speculation had been rife for weeks that Gen Kayani wanted to retain the spy chief, leaving the civilian government with little choice but to oblige.

Gen Pasha, 57, was appointed as the head of the ISI in October 2008. At that time he replaced a general who was a trusted aide of Pervez Musharraf, who resigned the presidency in August 2008. Though having impressive military credentials, Gen Pasha lacked experience in the fields of intelligence and espionage. Previously, he was acting director of military operations and oversaw the army's campaigns against Pakistani Taliban militants in the restive North West Frontier Province. In that capacity, he interacted extensively with US and western officials, winning accolades for his professionalism.

"General Pasha has a lot of ingress with different power centres - both local and international," an intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. "It is a fact acknowledged by General Kayani," he said. "He is a very hardworking official, with a reputation of getting things done. He is a person who can get a policy implemented." Gen Pasha is viewed as determined and keen on dismantling the Pakistani Taliban leadership that has wreaked havoc in the country with suicide attacks against civil and military targets.

He is also said to be carrying out a purge of pro-jihadi elements in the lower tiers of the country's clandestine intelligence network. Gen Kayani, the army chief, is due to retire this year and some have interpreted the extension to Gen Pasha as insurance for his own stay in power beyond his retirement date. Both generals are moulded in the traditional mindset of the Pakistani military that views India as the great existential threat, and Gen Kayani continues to warn against Indian influence inside Afghanistan.

Pakistani interest in being a decisive stakeholder in Afghanistan explains its alleged support of the Haqqani network, a faction of the Afghan Taliban that is based in Pakistan's north-western tribal region and which the United States blames for cross-border attacks inside Afghanistan. The recent flurry of arrests of senior Afghan Taliban in Pakistan were of leaders thought to have broken contacts with the ISI and been in talks with the US-backed Afghan government, as it pursues reconciliation with willing factions. Observers say that the ISI was sending the message was that it cannot be excluded and will continue to act as a conduit and influence the future power structure of Afghanistan.

While military policy makers have tried to sell the extension of Gen Pasha as essential for "continuity of policy", dissenting voices have also emerged. "The most charitable explanation for Pasha's extension, and let's get real, Kayani's later this year, is that Kayani and Pasha are fighting the good fight," commented Dawn, the country's leading daily newspaper, in an editorial. "But that would also mean Kayani has decided to wage this struggle behind closed doors."

The ISI is often described as being a "state within a state", given its unfettered powers and general lack of accountability and transparency. For decades, it has influenced and shaped the country's domestic and foreign policy, much to the chagrin of the political leadership. Feared by many and revered by others, the ISI is alleged to be behind hundreds of disappearances of terror suspects and nationalist political workers in recent years.

The regional influence of the ISI grew after 1979 when the United States supported the guerrilla war in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union. The ISI became a conduit for money and weapons while at the same time developing a relationship with the US Central Intelligence Agency. After the Soviet withdrawal, the ISI supported the Taliban before abandoning its support - some say partially - after the September 11 attacks.

But anti-Americanism has steadily risen in Pakistani public discourse over the past several years. Despite being portrayed as an ally, Pakistan has a complicated and uneasy relationship with the US. Suspicion is a central feature of the relationship between the spy services as well, even as they continue to co-operate with one another. @Email:foreign.desk@thenational.ae

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

While you're here

Michael Young: Where is Lebanon headed?

Kareem Shaheen: I owe everything to Beirut

Raghida Dergham: We have to bounce back

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten

Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a  month before Reaching the Last Mile.

Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

 

Dhadak

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana

Stars: 3

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES

SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

How to become a Boglehead

Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.

•   Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.

•   Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.

•   Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.

•   Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.

•   Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.

•   Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.

•   Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.

•   Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.

Sam Smith

Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi

When: Saturday November 24

Rating: 4/5

FULL%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEslam%20Syaha%20(EGY)%20bt%20Robin%20Roos%20(SWE)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWelterweight%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAlex%20da%20Silva%20(BRA)%20bt%20Bagyash%20Zharmamatov%20(KGZ)%20%0D%3Cbr%3EMurodov%20Samandar%20(TJK)%20bt%20Lucas%20Sampaio%20(BRA)%20%0D%3Cbr%3EShakhban%20Alkhasov%20(RUS)%20bt%20Salamat%20Orozakunov%20(KGZ)%0D%3Cbr%3EKhotamjon%20Boynazarov%20(UZB)%20bt%20Mikail%20Bayram%20(FRA)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EJieleyisi%20Baergeng%20(CHN)%20bt%20Xavier%20Alaoui%20(CAN)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERashid%20Vagabov%20(RUS)%20bt%20Lun%20Qui%20(CHN)%20%0D%3Cbr%3EYamato%20Fujita%20(JPN)%20bt%20Furkatbek%20Yokubov%20(UZB)%20%0D%3Cbr%3EAaron%20Aby%20(WLS)%20bt%20Joevincent%20So%20(PHI)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20176lb%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMark%20Hulm%20(RSA)%20bt%20Erkin%20Darmenov%20(KAZ)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20160lb%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERustam%20Serbiev%20(BEL)%20bt%20Anar%20Huseyinov%20(AZE)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20150lb%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIslam%20Reda%20(EGY)%20bt%20Ernie%20Braca%20(PHI)%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%20(women)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3EBaktygul%20Kurmanbekova%20(KGZ)%20bt%20Maria%20Eugenia%20Zbrun%20(ARG)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Real Madrid 2

Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')

Barcelona 0

Match info

Uefa Champions League Group H

Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)

Types of policy

Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.

Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.

Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.

Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.

Brief scores:

Toss: Northern Warriors, elected to field first

Bengal Tigers 130-1 (10 ov)

Roy 60 not out, Rutherford 47 not out

Northern Warriors 94-7 (10 ov)

Simmons 44; Yamin 4-4

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports