Pakistan army, ISI under fire at home
Friday, 6 May 2011
From Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, May 05: The invincibility of the Pakistan army and its Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) has been embarrassingly exposed by the US raid on Osama bin-Laden's hideout in the garrison city of Abbottabad, close to capital Islamabad. How could the US helicopters move undetected? This has given rise to billion-dollar question about Pakistan army's capability to protect the territorial integrity of that country. The raid has provoked a crisis of confidence for what was seen as one institution that held together a country dangerously dogged by militancy and an anaemic weak civil administration. There is a furor in Pakistan now. The members of parliament, the media and talk-shows on TV are bitterly criticising the government, army and ISI for their inept failure. Some are calling for an independent inquiry with focus on the fact that Osama was discovered in their midst without the knowledge of the administration. Can military defend the borders and its nuclear arsenals from being destroyed by the United States or India? The most urgent question being asked whether the United States should continue to invest in Pakistan. Pakistan says it has been betrayed by the US. Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and ISI chief Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha have remained absolutely silent. They both conferred with Continued to page 7 Col. 3
NEW YORK, May 05: The invincibility of the Pakistan army and its Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) has been embarrassingly exposed by the US raid on Osama bin-Laden's hideout in the garrison city of Abbottabad, close to capital Islamabad. How could the US helicopters move undetected? This has given rise to billion-dollar question about Pakistan army's capability to protect the territorial integrity of that country. The raid has provoked a crisis of confidence for what was seen as one institution that held together a country dangerously dogged by militancy and an anaemic weak civil administration. There is a furor in Pakistan now. The members of parliament, the media and talk-shows on TV are bitterly criticising the government, army and ISI for their inept failure. Some are calling for an independent inquiry with focus on the fact that Osama was discovered in their midst without the knowledge of the administration. Can military defend the borders and its nuclear arsenals from being destroyed by the United States or India? The most urgent question being asked whether the United States should continue to invest in Pakistan. Pakistan says it has been betrayed by the US. Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and ISI chief Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha have remained absolutely silent. They both conferred with Continued to page 7 Col. 3