ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army has summoned former ISI chief Lt. Gen. (r) Asad Durrani to explain his position on his recently launched book co-authored by former R&AW chief A.S. Dulat titled The Spy Chronicles: ISI, RAW and the Illusion of Peace.
On May 22, DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor tweeted that the former DG ISI would be asked to explain his position on views attributed to him in the book. Durrani’s views were taken as a violation of the military code of conduct applicable on all serving and retired military personnel.
The army, according to journalists who cover it, thinks that the former spymaster’s book could tarnish the military’s image abroad and would strengthen the “enemy’s narrative” globally.
The book deals with sensitive topics ranging from Hafiz Saeed to the Mumbai attacks and even the Abbottabad operation. The book also focuses on the operations conducted by the ISI and R&AW.
The book is in the format of a conversation between the two former spymasters who go to great lengths to give their analysis. However, the discussion of certain national security issues has irked some people in Pakistan who have questioned Gen (r) Durrani’s act of discussing what could be called state secrets in public.
Some military officials and experts hold the view, however, that the army cannot take any action against its former spy chief.
Brigadier (r) Saad Muhammad, a former senior official in the Pakistan army, said Lt. Gen. (r) Asad Durrani was a civilian now that he was no longer in service. “There is no such thing as a military code of conduct,” said Brig. Muhammad. However, he said Gen. (r) Durrani can be tried under the official secrets act, which is applicable to all military officials and civilians.
He said that the army can summon any officer for an explanation but he thinks that nothing is going to happen in Durrani’s case as the former ISI has hardly revealed any state secret.
Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa, an expert on military affairs, agrees with Brig Muhammad. She said the official secrets act doesn’t apply on Gen. (r) Durrani. “He could always say it’s his view and it’s not the first time he has said it,” Dr. Siddiqa told. “Look what he has written, he has given his opinion or stated things that he could always say is his opinion.”
Defence analyst Lt Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib said that what Gen Durrani has written in the book doesn’t match with the military’s narrative. He said a soldier is bound to abide by his oath even after retirement.
“You have to send your book’s draft to seek clearance from your institution,” the former official said. “If Gen Durrani failed to satisfy the army, action could be taken against him.”
Shoaib said the government could stop Durrani’s pension if it believes he violated his oath. However, he said Gen. (r) Durrani didn’t reveal any state secret as he retired 25 years ago.
Prominent legal expert Babar Sattar agrees with Gen. (r) Shoaib. “There is hardly anything he has said in the book and there is hardly anything the army can do to punish him just because he co-authored it with India’s R&AW chief.” He said Gen. (r) Durrani could be tried under official secrets act but they will need to first establish that an official secret was disclosed. APP