Durrani's controversial book could spotlight Pak Army's role: experts

Pakistani defence experts believe that there could be greater scrutiny on the role of the powerful Pakistan Army after the revelations by former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani in a controversial book co-authored by him opened a "Pandora's Box", pressing it to keep its own house in order.

According to the Express Tribune newspaper, the defence experts also said the new book has benefitted the beleaguered former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif to a great extent as he has been facing severe criticism for his comment on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack in a newspaper interview.

Brigadier (retd) Said Nazir Mohmand told the paper that the ousted premier Sharif seems to be the beneficiary as the former ISI chief has directly talked about the issues, considered sensitive.

"Indian spy agency RAW and ISI have been fighting against each other since long and now ISI's former boss talks about some controversial matters. Now the criticism will be diverted to Pakistan Army, pressing it to keep its own house in order," Nazir said.

The powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half its history since independence in 1947, is considered a major player in the country's politics.

The release of the book has sparked accusations of treachery against the former spy chief after his candid views on various matters of regional and global concern came under intense public scrutiny, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Nazir said Durrani unveiled some top events in Pakistan which were highly classified.

"The former RAW chief (Amarjit Singh Dulat) has been very guarded while Durrani has been extrovert as such topics have opened a Pandora's Box," Nazir commented.

The Pakistan Army which summoned Durrani to the General Headquarters today to demand an explanation from him on the views attributed to him in his book, has instituted a Court of Inquiry and banned him from leaving the country.

In the book, Durrani has revealed that track-II diplomacy was in place since long aimed at averting war between the two nuclear-armed neigbours.

The basic idea of this book is to discuss steps which could help avert surgical strikes on behalf of India if untoward incidents like Mumbai attacks happen again, Nazir added.

Another defence analyst Khalid Muhammad told the Express Tribune that looking at former ISI Director General's collaborative book with the former RAW chief Dulat "it is hard not to consider the timing and the content."
"While the book is formulated as a discussion between two former intelligence chiefs, we have to understand with the current climate against Pakistan, this book is a landmine."