ISLAMABAD – Defence analysts have revealed that the latest book by formerISI Chief has greatly favoured the Nawaz Sharif.
They believe that Lt General (retd) Asad Durrani’s revelations in acontroversial book which is coauthored by him and an ex-RAW chief hasbenefitted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to a great extent who hasbeen facing severe criticism for his comment on the Mumbai attack in anewspaper interview.
Brigadier (retd) Said Nazir Mohmand said that in the wake of the ‘book’Sharif seems to be the beneficiary as the former ISI chief has directlytalked about the issues.
“Indian spy agency RAW and ISI have been fighting against each other sincelong and now ISI’s former boss talks about some controversial matters. Nowthe criticism will be diverted to Pakistan army, pressing it to keep itsown house in order,” Nazir highlighted.
He [Durrani] has also been summoned by the Pakistan Army at the GeneralHeadquarters (GHQ) on Monday (today) to explain his position on the viewsattributed to him in his book.
Former ISI chief Asad Durrani’s new book titled *The Spy Chronicles: RAW,ISI and the Illusion of Peace*, co-authored with former RAW chief AmarjitSingh Dulat and journalist Aditya Sinha was recently published whichsparked a lot of debate.
Nazir said Durrani unveiled some top events in Pakistan which were highlyclassified.
“The former RAW chief has been very guarded while Durrani has beenextrovert as such topics have opened a Pandora’s Box,” Nazir observed.
He revealed that track-two diplomacy was in place since long aimed ataverting war between the two arch rivals. The basic idea of this book is todiscuss steps which could help avert surgical strikes on behalf of India ifuntoward incidents like Mumbai attacks happen again, Nazir added.
Another defence analyst Khalid Muhammad said that looking at formerDG-ISI’s collaborative book with the former RAW chief “it is hard not toconsider the timing and the content.”
“While the book is formulated as a discussion between two formerintelligence chiefs, we have to understand with the current climate againstPakistan, this book is a landmine.”
“With the elections on horizon, Durrani’s statements paint a very negativeimage of the Pakistan Army and the ISI in relation to events that happenedin the past and continue to affect Pakistan’s domestic and regionalpolicy,” Muhammad stated.
According to him who is also the writer of a well-known spy novel, *AgencyRules*, it should also be taken into consideration that he [Durrani] didnot leave Pakistan Army under stellar conditions. He was deposed as DG-ISIand forced to retire early.
He said additionally, with the Asghar Khan case reaching its logical endand the potential prison sentences arising, it seems that the retiredgeneral wanted to clear his conscience as he has done in the past ondomestic and international television channels.
“Whether his statements are taken seriously, or from the point of view ofsomeone who was in the most powerful seat in Pakistan, the statements madein the discussion presented in the book are going to be difficult for anyPakistani to absorb or accept,” he said.
While responding to a question he said India would be the actualbeneficiary after publishing of the book. Sharif will be benefitedindirectly because attention has been diverted to the Army rather thankeeping it firmly focused on him, he said, adding that “it will add moreweight to Sharif’s argument of an over-active army over here.”