Change has finally taken place at the ISI top. Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha is replacing Lt Gen Nadeem Taj as the Director General Inter Services Intelligence. Having served as the Director General Military Operations (DG MO) Gen Pasha is a man of action and well known for his professional skills. He has served also as the  Military Adviser, Department of Peacekeeping Operations of  the UN. Apart from these postings in words of the UN Secretary General’s office he has had a distinguished 30-plus year career in the Pakistani Army.  He has commanded an infantry division, a mechanized infantry brigade, an infantry battalion and has served as the Chief Instructor of the Command and Staff College of the Pakistani Army.  From 2001-2002, General Pasha also served as a Contingent and Sector Commander with UNAMSIL, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone.  In this position, he was responsible for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former rebel groups. General Pasha, born in 1952, is married and has three children.
Now the actual question is that with such a distinguished career does anyone have a problem with the appointment? Apparently yes. Since he is relieving an alleged Musharraf loyalist from the key job, there evidently is heartburning in his support circles. A section of the press and the blogosphere is implying that the change has been brought upon the insistence of Washington. Folks, this is a lie. The US has had no problems with previous ISI chief either. If there was any problem it was the alleged Taliban appeasers among the operatives. The change has come because the Army Chief wants to depoliticize the military institutions and wants to restore the institution’s integrity damaged by a prolonged military rule and Gen Taj’s public perception was essentially partisan. That is two plus two folks. It is good for the ISI that we now have a person of Gen Pasha’s calibre heading the institution. Meanwhile Gen Taj will head Gujranwala Corps, another prestigious appointment. Folks, one appeal too. The country is very very seriously polarized. Let us not exacerbate the situation further by random guessing. Let us hope that the emerging order brings literal order.

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