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Pakistan appoints ally of army chief to head intelligence agency

World News

22-09-2014 | 03:06

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Pakistan appoints ally of army chief to head intelligence agency

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Pakistan appointed a close ally of the army chief to head the powerful and controversial intelligence agency on Monday, cementing the military's dominance following weeks of anti-government protests.

Rizwan Akhtar, who has extensive experience of counterinsurgency from a previous posting in the South Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan, will take over the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in October.

The head of the spy agency is one of the most important posts in Pakistan, at the intersection of domestic politics, the war on militancy and Pakistan's foreign relations.

It is also one of the most controversial, given accusations against the ISI of meddling in domestic politics and having ties to the Afghan Taliban and other insurgent groups fighting U.S.-led NATO troops in Afghanistan, charges the military denies.

Although the ISI officially reports to the prime minister, in reality it is controlled by the army chief, in this case General Raheel Sharif.

Akhtar's previous job was head of the paramilitary Rangers in southeastern Sindh province where he led a comprehensive operation against Islamist groups and criminal gangs in Karachi, the country's financial hub.

"He (Akhtar) is a horribly straight guy, all black and white," said a serving military official. "He has served in a place like Karachi ... with all its turf wars and politics while remaining neutral and apolitical and also has extensive experience of counterinsurgency and counterterrorism. He was the obvious choice."

REUTERS

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