CIA, ISI: Paranoia Party
Last week I went over two articles from journal International Security which both discussed the deteriorating security and governance situation along the Afghan/Pakistan border. Both articles emphasized Pakistan’s intelligence service, the ISI, as being either too weak, lacking decent effort, or of actually being a partner in some of the Taliban’s insurgent efforts against NATO and the Afghan government. In fact, both papers’ accusations were rather damning against the ISI. Combine this analysis and evidence along with a report by the New York Times today regarding a high level visit by the CIA and Joint Chief of Staff Adm. Mullen with Pakistan’s government leaders, where the US side outlined accusations against the ISI’s role in the insurgency. The CIA and US military specifically accused the ISI of having continual links with the militant network lead by Maulavi Jalaluddin Haqqani, who is known to have direct links to members of Al Qaeda. The article also discusses how Pakistan’s nascent civilian government was having a hard time asserting control over the intelligence agency.
This is not the first time the US has sent senior officials to Pakistan to discuss ISI nefarious links, and the CIA and the ISI do have a long standing relationship that has been peppered with suspicion and ‘mutual deception’ since the days of the Soviet takeover in Afghanistan. But this meeting and the dire situation along the Afghan/Pak border, including a recent flare up in violence between Sunnis and Shia in Pakistan’s Parachinar, where the Taliban are showing increasing strength and violence, may portend a deteriorating relationship between the two spy agencies. Even a mild break between the two would have major ramifications and this should be avoided at all cost. Both sides desire stability in the region and they need to find mutual ground to work on. Suspicion is there on both sides, here is an article published in the Pakistan Daily showcasing a deep concern over US ambitions in the region, but the stakes are too high. The US risks losing control in Afghanistan and allowing Al Qaeda to recuperate and the Pakistan’s new civilian government is facing a colossal test in its northern territories, a test it must pass to keep its nation intact.