Stop media trial of ISI
IN the physical domain, the armed forces of Pakistan are safeguarding the national frontiers as well as the internal threats to state of Pakistan.
Winning the war against terrorism is the recent example where achievements of the armed forces of Pakistan were unmatched and unprecedented.
This all was possible because of professionalism, dedication and loyalty with the motherland. While the military combat the rival forces in physical domain, it needs early warnings and timely information of the planning rival forces.
The premium Pakistani intelligence agency; Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) provides the most needed information about the evil designs of rivals forces while acting as eyes and ears for the armed forces and other organs of the state.
Primarily ISI safeguards the national interests of Pakistan as the vanguard of armed forces and the state.
Indeed, it protects the state, its institutions and masses and paves way for fulfilment of Pakistani national interests at international level.
Ever since its establishment, this premium organization has acted as the first line of defence for Pakistan.
It provides timely information and early warnings about the global and regional happenings with particular reference to their impacts on Pakistan.
Moreover, ISI through its efficient organizational structure and dedicated work force timely informs the leadership about the emerging threats and approaches to counter those threats with needed counter measures.
Owing to its most efficient recital and farsightedness, it is globally ranked among top few spying networks of the world.
Ranking this premium organization as world’s top class network is a matter of great pride for the people of Pakistan nevertheless, it attracts jealousies against it.
The more this organization gain in term of professionalism and farsighted planning, Pakistan will be more secure and protected from the conspiracies of global spying networks and the rival forces which otherwise look for an opportunity to harm Pakistani national interests.
Indeed, safeguarding the national interests of Pakistan is the primary objective of this premium Pakistani organization.
In last two decades, ISI has successfully unearthed and destroyed the network of terrorism, which the enemies of Pakistan have established to destabilize and weaken the state, its institutions and Pakistani society.
It has successfully unearthed the abettors, sponsors, supporters, financers and sympathizers of terrorism, extremism and radicalization both within Pakistan and across the Pakistani frontiers.
The rival international and regional spying networks have been operating from the neighbourhood of Pakistan with the aim of destabilizing Pakistan.
These forces have been operating from the soil of neighbouring states even before the incident of 9/11.
Indeed, the international forces planned the war on terror for the devastation of Pakistan and to create chaos among the masses for the initiation of civil war.
Alongside the armed forces of Pakistan; ISI played a decisive role to counter and finally defeat the regional and international conspiracies against Pakistan.
This Premium Pakistan spying network has thwarted the anti-Pakistan activities of regional and international spying networks which were operating from all around.
It has successfully countered hostile spying networks and their huge infrastructure. Otherwise, it was very difficult to deal with highly sophisticated and well-knitted international and regional spying networks.
ISI has maintained a clean conduct ever since its establishment which distinguishes it from some of the notorious spying networks like RAW and Mossad. ISI has neither established merciless concentration camps nor colonised its neighbours.
On behalf of the Government, it has sincerely and wholeheartedly supported the peace process in Afghanistan.
Since August 15, 2021, Pakistan is fully supporting the Taliban Government in Afghanistan purely on humanitarian grounds.
In last two decades, all military operations against terrorism were preceded by the elements of this premium intelligence with timely information and access to targets.
Operation Rad-ul-Fassad is totally intelligence based operation which has destroyed the sleeper cells of terrorists and financial basis of extremism, terrorism and radicalization.
Apart from supporting the armed forces of Pakistan on the issue of security and strategy, this premium organization safeguard the national interest of Pakistan at all level. It plays a greater role in finding the economic opportunities for Pakistan at international level.
It also facilitates advancing the trade and commerce for the business community of Pakistan at international level.
The organization has greater role in creating a positive image of Pakistan which the rival powers have tarnished over the years.
Owing to its marvellous achievements, the regional and global spying networks have planned to harm this brilliant organization by all means.
Since the direct attacks over this organization have failed, the rival agencies have lobbied to defame the organization through internal and external defaming campaigns.
Through a well-orchestrated campaign, some literate segments in Pakistani society are being used to defame ISI.
These segments are being approached through surreptitious means for initiating narratives which aims to create animosity among the masses against this organization and the armed forces.
In this regard, some of the political parties and religio-political groups are being asked to defame the organization in their political statements and through their workers.
Through an indirect approach the rival spying networks are creating an environment in Pakistan to mobilize the political forces, the social and religious groups and some media houses against this national institution of Pakistan besides Pakistani Military.
These indirect strategies are part of hybrid warfare through which enemies of Pakistan have already unleashed a wider propaganda campaign against them.
After all, the hybrid warfare is all about building the perceptions and narratives. The past happenings indicate that, negative perceptions and narratives were purposefully constructed against Pakistan Army and ISI.
This indirect warfare aims at weakening the impregnable defence and security of the state of Pakistan.
Therefore, let’s not be driven by the agendas, narratives and interests of rival regional and international forces.
Indeed, the media trial of ISI and Pak Army must end domestically, since this serve as a base for initiation of media campaigning against them by rival regional and international forces.
At this critical time, let’s construct and strengthen the national narratives and reverse the narratives of rival forces by unearthing their hidden agendas against the state of Pakistan, its armed forces and above all its premium intelligence agency.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.