Ahmad Shuja Pasha
| Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha HI(M) احمد شجاع پاشا |
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|---|---|
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| Pasha (right) next to Gen. Ashfaq Kayani on the USS Abraham Lincoln talking with Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | |
| Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 2008 |
|
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Preceded by | Nadeem Taj |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 March 1952 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
| Service/branch | Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | 1974-present |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | Frontier Force Regiment |
| Commands | 8th Infantry Division, Sialkot Command and Staff College, Quetta DG Military Operations (DGMO) United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone Command and Staff College |
| Battles/wars | Sierra Leone Civil War War in North-West Pakistan |
| Awards | Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) |
Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha (Urdu: احمد شجاع پاشا), HI(M) (born 18 March 1952) is the current Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's premier intelligence service since October 2008.[1] He was due to reach the age of superannuation on 18 March 2010, but has received two extensions.[2] His tenure was extended by a year and then again by another two years, until 18 March 2013.[3] He was recently named as one of the 100 most influential people by Time Magazine.[4]
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[edit] Army career
Pasha was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the famed Frontier Force Regiment in the 49th PMA Long Course in 1974. He has commanded 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 to 2002, General Pasha served as a Contingent and Sector Commander of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone.
Pasha was promoted to Major General in January 2003,[6] and posted as GOC 8th Infantry Division in Sialkot. From there in April 2005, he was sent as Commandant Command and Staff College in Quetta. From April 2006 to October 2008, Pasha served as the Director General of Military Operations at the Army headquarters overseeing all military engagements in Waziristan, Swat and other tribal areas.[7]
In October 2007, Pasha was selected as Military Adviser to Secretary-General of United Nations however due to his commitments as DGMO he never joined the UN.[8]
Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha was born in 1952. He has commanded an infantry division, a mechanized infantry brigade, an infantry battalion and has served as the Chief Instructor and Commandant of the Command and Staff College of the Pakistani Army. From 2001-2002, General Pasha served as a Contingent and Sector Commander of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. Pasha was also selected as Military Adviser to Secretary General of United Nations however due to his commitments in Pakistan never joined the UN. From April 2006 to September 2008 Pasha was the director general of military operations for the Pakistani army.
The newly elected civilian government of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani tried for two months to gain control of the appointment for the director of the ISI as well as place the agency under the administrative, financial, and operational control of the Interior Ministry. However, the attempt failed when Chief of the Army, General Kayani appointed Pasha on September 29, 2008. Gen. Pasha’s prior post was responsible for planning operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in the FATA and NWFP provinces of Pakistan. Pasha is closely allied to General Kayani.
[edit] ISI appointment
The newly elected civilian government of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani tried for two months to gain control of the appointment for the director of the ISI as well as place the agency under the administrative, financial, and operational control of the Interior Ministry.[9] However, the attempt failed when Chief of Army Staff, General Kayani appointed Pasha on 29 September 2008.[1][10] Pasha’s prior post was responsible for planning operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in the FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan, signaling a reorientation from the ISI's traditional Kashmir/India focus.[11] Pasha was appointed director of the ISI at Washington's behest;[12] Pasha is closely allied to General Kayani, the CIA, and holds anti-Taliban views.[10][12] The United States Government had pressured Pakistan to replace Lieutenant-General Nadeem Taj, the prior chief of the ISI, whom they claimed as "double dealing" with militants with a more acceptable candidate like Pasha.[13][14] Additionally, Pasha’s appointment was part of a wider Chief of Army Staff reappointment shake-up that solidified General Kayani’s loyalty among the military as all prior appointees were done by former President and Chief of the Army Pervez Musharraf.[1]
[edit] 2008 Mumbai attacks
In the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks,Indian media reported that Pasha has prepared to go to India to share intelligence after a request from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,[15] constituting the first time the head of the ISI traveling to help the investigation of a terrorist attack,[5] but later on it turned out to be a wrong report.[16]
In September 2009, he made another public outreach toward India, attending an Iftar hosted by Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Sabharwal.[17]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Kayani shakes up army command". DAWN.com. 30 September 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/60fajnJYY. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "ISI chief, four commanders retiring this year". DAWN.com. 10 February 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/60faqzo6a. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "ISI head Gen Pasha may get another extension". DAWN.com. 11 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60fapHuYy. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Ahmed Shuja Pasha: Intelligence Chief". Time.com. 21 April 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60fbEXtYE. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ a b "ISI chief may visit India to help probe". Hindustan Times. 28 November 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/60ffKtTgR. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "19 brigadiers promoted". DAWN.com. 25 January 2003. http://www.webcitation.org/60fbZ3Lnb. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Pakistan Picks New Chief For Intelligence Agency". Washington Post. 30 September 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/60fboIk65. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS LIEUTENANT GENERAL AHMAD SHUJA PASHA OF PAKISTAN AS MILITARY ADVISER, DEPARTMENT OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS". United Nations: Department of Public Information. 5 October 2007. http://www.webcitation.org/60fbWBiAT. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Editorial: Welcome change of guard at ISI". The Daily Times. 1 October 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/60fc6n4FA. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Pakistani Military Names Spy Agency Chief". The New York Times. 30 September 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/mainframe.php. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ Farhan Bokhari. "Anti-terror chief ousted in Pakistan" Financial Times, 30 September 2008
- ^ a b "The fight goes on, militants tell Pakistan". Asia Times Online. 1 October 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/60fcDcP51. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "ISI chief urged to quit as battle rages at border". The Australian. 29 September 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/60fcFGsvK. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "US behind change of guard in ISI?". The Times of India. 1 October 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/60fcGjsf7. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Pakistan to send ISI chief to India". GEO Pakistan. 28 November 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/60fcJ6BNj. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "DG ISI representative to visit India: PM". GEO Pakistan. 29 November 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/60ffGUc0c. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "ISI chief at Indian High Commissioner's 'iftar' makes headlines". The Economic Times. 11 September 2009. http://www.webcitation.org/60ffIFb5q. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nadeem Taj |
Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence 2008–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
