Date:29/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112960381000.htm

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We will comment after formal order: Army

Nirupama Subrmanian

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army appeared to distance itself from the government decision to send Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha to New Delhi in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks by saying it had received no “formal” communication about it.

Military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas told The Hindu he would be able to comment only after the Army received the “formal order” from the government detailing the “purpose” of the visit.

As a serving officer, the ISI chief is answerable to the Army chief, even though on paper the intelligence agency comes under the supervision of the Prime Minister. The ISI is more famously described as “a State within a State,” answerable to no one.

It is believed that the PPP-led government would not have so readily publicised its acceptance of the Indian request for a visit by the ISI chief had the Pakistan Army, which is widely known to control the intelligence agency, not been on board the decision.

But if it was consulted, the Pakistan Army is not letting on.

“It is certainly unprecedented,” Major-General Abbas said of the decision announced by the Pakistan government to send Lt. Gen Pasha to India, but declined to say if it had been made in consultation with the Army.

“I cannot say anything about consultations [between the government and the Army on the decision]. I will only be able to comment when I receive the order giving the details and the purpose of the visit,” Major-General Abbas said.