Military Intelligence of Pakistan
Encyclopedia
In Pakistan Defence Forces, the Directorate-General for the Military Intelligence (also known as M.I.), is a Pakistan Defence Forces intelligence agency and that is responsible for the military counter-intelligence. It also refers specifically to the intelligence components of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Unlike the ISI directorate, the M.I. is composed of all uniformed officers who are tasked with gathering the offensive counter-insurgence intelligence, identifying and eliminating sleeper cells, foreign agents and other anti Pakistan elements within Pakistan, and investigation of military espionage. However, all [agencies] share the common goal of preserving Pakistan's national security. Since any significant domestic or foreign political activity impinges on national security, there has traditinally been considerable overlap in the activities of these three (ISI, IB, and MI) agencies.
in 1958 against the government of President
Major-General (retired) Iskander Mirza, the Military Intelligence's director-general Major-General Syed Shahid Hamid
reported to the then-Commander-in-Chief (Chief of Army Staff) Field Marshal Ayub Khan. The M.I. reported that the Martial Law
was promulgated in entire country, both East-Pakistan
and West-Pakistan
, and country's all agencies fell under the direct control of the President and Chief Martial Law Administrator
, and the three intelligence agencies began competing to demonstrate their loyalty to Ayub Khan and his military government.
The ISI and the MI became extremely active during the l965 presidential election
keeping Fatima Jinnah
and other politicians, particularly the East Pakistanis (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
) and West Pakistanis (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
), under extreme surveillance. The MI also played a controversial role in an alleged massacre
in East-Pakistan. In 1978, the M.I. was a major integral that planned Fair Play
against the government of Prime minister
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
, and played a key role in his controversial hanging. The M.I. brought then-Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army General Zia-ul-Haque in political power, and feted him as Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan.
In 1980s, Military Intelligence activities include operations in Sindh against the Pakistan Communist Party
(CPP) and Indian intelligence operatives. Along with ISI, the M.I. is accused of alleged murder of Pakistani communist leader Nazeer Abbasi
. The MI implicted in arrests of innocent people, monitors the activities of the leaders of political opposition groups.
The Military Intelligence was also active during the Kargil debacle where Major-General Jamshed Gulzar Kayani had led the series of military intelligence operations. However, the M.I. staged another coup d'état against the democratically elected government of Prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The M.I. played an significant and integral role in bringing General Pervez Musharraf, Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, in political power.
, Naval Intelligence (Navy
), Army Intelligence (Pakistan Army), and the Directorate for Marine Intelligence of the Marines
. However, the M.I. is part of the Army
and reports directly to the Chief of Army Staff. And, the Army has been appointed its officers to lead the agency. Pakistan's Military Intelligence (MI) is one of the three main intelligence services in Pakistan. MI is tasked with operations, identifying and eliminating sleeper cells, foreign agents and other anti-Pakistani elements within Pakistan. The M.I. is currently headed by Army's two-star general, Major-General Naushad Ahmed Kayani.
Historical overview
The agency was created by Major-General Robert Cawthom, who also served its first director. Major-General Cawthom later established the ISI directorate in 1950s. Prior to the successful imposition of coup d'état1958 Pakistani coup d'état
The 1958 Pakistani coup d'état refers to the events between October 7, when the President of Pakistan Iskander Mirza abrogated the Constitution of Pakistan and declared martial law, and October 27, when Mirza himself was deposed by Gen. Ayub Khan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistani Army...
in 1958 against the government of President
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
Major-General (retired) Iskander Mirza, the Military Intelligence's director-general Major-General Syed Shahid Hamid
Syed Shahid Hamid
Major General Syed Shahid Hamid MBE HJ MC was a 2 star general in the Pakistan Army and a close associate of President Field Marshal Ayub Khan who played an important and an instrumental role in bringing Field Marshal Ayub Khan to power in the 1958 coup d'état that overthrew the government of...
reported to the then-Commander-in-Chief (Chief of Army Staff) Field Marshal Ayub Khan. The M.I. reported that the Martial Law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
was promulgated in entire country, both East-Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
and West-Pakistan
West Pakistan
West Pakistan , common name West-Pakistan , in the period between its establishment on 22 November 1955 to disintegration on December 16, 1971. This period, during which, Pakistan was divided, ended when East-Pakistan was disintegrated and succeeded to become which is now what is known as Bangladesh...
, and country's all agencies fell under the direct control of the President and Chief Martial Law Administrator
Chief Martial Law Administrator
The office of the Chief Martial Law Administrator was a senior government post created in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia that gave considerable executive authority and powers to the holder of the post to enforce martial law in the country. This office has been used mostly by...
, and the three intelligence agencies began competing to demonstrate their loyalty to Ayub Khan and his military government.
The ISI and the MI became extremely active during the l965 presidential election
Pakistani presidential election, 1965
Presidential elections were held in Pakistan on 2 January 1965. The vote was held amongst the 80,000 "basic democrats", who were members of the urban and regional councils....
keeping Fatima Jinnah
Fatima Jinnah
Fatima Jinnah , was one of the figurative and pioneering woman figure in Pakistan Movement and was the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. An active political figure in the movement for independence from the British Raj, she is commonly known in Pakistan as Khātūn-e...
and other politicians, particularly the East Pakistanis (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
) and West Pakistanis (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
), under extreme surveillance. The MI also played a controversial role in an alleged massacre
1964 East Pakistan genocide
The 1964 East Pakistan Genocide refers to the gruesome massacre and ethnic cleansing of Bengali Hindus from East Pakistan in the wake of an alleged theft of a Prophet's relic from the Hazratbal shrine in Jammu and Kashmir in India...
in East-Pakistan. In 1978, the M.I. was a major integral that planned Fair Play
Operation Fair Play
Operation Fairplay was the code-name for the coup d'etat conducted at midnight on July 4, 1977 by the Pakistan Army's 111th Infantry Brigade led by Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq against the elected civilian government of then-Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.-1977 election:The coup was...
against the government of Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
, and played a key role in his controversial hanging. The M.I. brought then-Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army General Zia-ul-Haque in political power, and feted him as Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan.
In 1980s, Military Intelligence activities include operations in Sindh against the Pakistan Communist Party
Communist Party of Pakistan
The Communist Party of Pakistan is a communist party affiliated with Communist Party of the Russia. Before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the party had long association and ties with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union ....
(CPP) and Indian intelligence operatives. Along with ISI, the M.I. is accused of alleged murder of Pakistani communist leader Nazeer Abbasi
Nazeer Abbasi
Nazeer Abbasi was a Pakistani communist and the Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Pakistan. Abbasi was the political activist and an office holder of the Communist Party as he was designated as Secretary General. He was killed on August 9, 1980 while in the custody of Pakistani...
. The MI implicted in arrests of innocent people, monitors the activities of the leaders of political opposition groups.
The Military Intelligence was also active during the Kargil debacle where Major-General Jamshed Gulzar Kayani had led the series of military intelligence operations. However, the M.I. staged another coup d'état against the democratically elected government of Prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The M.I. played an significant and integral role in bringing General Pervez Musharraf, Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, in political power.
Organization
The MI directorate is composed of Air Intelligence (AI) of Air ForcePakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
, Naval Intelligence (Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
), Army Intelligence (Pakistan Army), and the Directorate for Marine Intelligence of the Marines
Pakistan Marines
The Pakistani Marines , are the Marine Corps and amphibious corps service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The Pakistani Marines are a special military operations service branch of the Pakistani Navy and part of Pakistani Armed Forces, responsible for providing force projection from the sea,...
. However, the M.I. is part of the Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
and reports directly to the Chief of Army Staff. And, the Army has been appointed its officers to lead the agency. Pakistan's Military Intelligence (MI) is one of the three main intelligence services in Pakistan. MI is tasked with operations, identifying and eliminating sleeper cells, foreign agents and other anti-Pakistani elements within Pakistan. The M.I. is currently headed by Army's two-star general, Major-General Naushad Ahmed Kayani.
See also
- Inter-Services IntelligenceInter-Services IntelligenceThe Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
- Jamshed Gulzar KianiJamshed Gulzar KianiLieutenant-General Jamshed Gulzar Kiani , was a Pakistan Army intelligence officer and the former Colonel Commandant of the X Corps and Baloch Regiment...