"Let the time come," stated Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Pervaz Ashfaq Kayani during his recent visit to Jacobabad in response to a question about the extension in the tenure of Director General (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha. According to sources, the government is keeping mum on this issue for now.
"The decision in this regard has been taken after General Kayani's one-on-one meeting with the President Asif Ali Zardari," defence sources said. Sources also reveal that the government has decided against extending the tenure of the chief of its spy agency. The appointment of a successor will assume greater significance in the backdrop of recent tensions. Even though the Prime Minister has the authority to appoint the future spymaster, it would be a rare move for the civilian government to take the decision in the absence of military establishment's consent.
Pasha was handed a one-year extension as chief of the premier spy agency last March. Source further claims that the DG ISI did not want an extension, particularly after the bitter Memogate episode, which had reportedly distanced him from the Prime Minister.
At least four senior military officers - Corps Commander Lahore Lieutenant-General Rashid, Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant-General Zaheer-ul-Islam, Deputy Director General ISI Major-General Asfandyar Pataudi and the incumbent DG Military Intelligence Major-General Noshad Kayani - are reportedly being considered for the top ISI slot. US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has said that his country's ties with Pakistan could be affected by Pasha's retirement.
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