Pakistan's Inter-services Intelligence Directorate: Covert Action And Internal Operations
by Owen L. Sirrs /
2016 / English / PDF
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This book is the first comprehensive study of Pakistan’s
Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI).
This book is the first comprehensive study of Pakistan’s
Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI).
The rise of Pakistan-backed religious extremist groups in
Afghanistan, India, and Central Asia has focused international
attention on Pakistan’s premier intelligence organization and
covert action advocate, the Inter-Services Intelligence
Directorate or ISI. While ISI is regarded as one of the most
powerful government agencies in Pakistan today, surprisingly
little has been written about it from an academic perspective.
This book addresses critical gaps in our understanding of this
agency, including its domestic security mission, covert backing
of the Afghan Taliban, and its links to al-Qa’ida. Using primary
source materials, including declassified intelligence and
diplomatic reporting, press reports and memoirs, this book
explores how ISI was transformed from a small, negligible counter
intelligence outfit of the late-1940s into the national security
behemoth of today with extensive responsibilities in domestic
security, political interference and covert action. This study
concludes that reforming or even eliminating ISI will be
fundamental if Pakistan is to successfully transition from an
army-run, national security state to a stable, democratic society
that enjoys peaceful relations with its neighbours.
The rise of Pakistan-backed religious extremist groups in
Afghanistan, India, and Central Asia has focused international
attention on Pakistan’s premier intelligence organization and
covert action advocate, the Inter-Services Intelligence
Directorate or ISI. While ISI is regarded as one of the most
powerful government agencies in Pakistan today, surprisingly
little has been written about it from an academic perspective.
This book addresses critical gaps in our understanding of this
agency, including its domestic security mission, covert backing
of the Afghan Taliban, and its links to al-Qa’ida. Using primary
source materials, including declassified intelligence and
diplomatic reporting, press reports and memoirs, this book
explores how ISI was transformed from a small, negligible counter
intelligence outfit of the late-1940s into the national security
behemoth of today with extensive responsibilities in domestic
security, political interference and covert action. This study
concludes that reforming or even eliminating ISI will be
fundamental if Pakistan is to successfully transition from an
army-run, national security state to a stable, democratic society
that enjoys peaceful relations with its neighbours.
This book will be of interest to students of intelligence
studies, South Asian politics, foreign policy and international
security in general.
This book will be of interest to students of intelligence
studies, South Asian politics, foreign policy and international
security in general.