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The name of a former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, retired Lt Gen Asad Durrani — who recently co-authored a book with former Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Amarjit Singh Dulat — will be placed on the no-fly list, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Monday.
The statement followed Durrani's summoning to General Headquarters (GHQ) on Monday to "explain his position on views attributed to him" in the book, titled The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace.
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 competent authority [has been] approached to place his [Durrani] name on the Exit Control List," army spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor announced on Monday via Twitter.
He added that "a formal Court of Inquiry headed by a serving Lt Gen has been ordered to probe the matter in detail".
Lt Gen Asad Durrani, Retired was called at GHQ today to explain his position on recently launched book ‘Spy Chronicles’. A formal Court of Inquiry headed by a serving Lt Gen has been ordered to probe the matter in detail. Competent authority approached to place his name on ECL.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) May 28, 2018
So far, no details have been shared about which statements attributed to Durrani in the book are considered a violation of the code of conduct.
Take a look: Spy book release spurs criticism of repression in held Kashmir
The book is mainly a series of discussions conducted between the two former adversaries on a range of topics, moderated by journalist Aditya Sinha.
The paperback has served as an ice-breaker of sorts between the two warring neighbours while also spurring criticism of Indian state repression in held Kashmir.
The two former spies have in the book touched upon some thorny issues which have kept Pakistan-India ties strained for decades and at times pushing them to the brink of war. The issues include terrorism — particularly the Mumbai attack — Kashmir and the influence of intelligence agencies.
Earlier, Durrani had said that the book was Dulat’s idea but at no time was it considered as an occasion to spill any secrets.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time instance of Durrani co-authoring something with Dulat.
In 2013, the two published a joint paper on Pakistan-India relations in the context of Kashmir titled Kashmir: Confrontation to Cooperation.
Durrani notes in The Spy Chronicles that the paper had not received any adverse reaction from the military establishment, even though it also dealt with some contentious themes.
Under fire for divulging 'serious information'
However, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had drawn a parallel between his own recent statement on the Mumbai attack case and the contents of the said book. He had also called for the National Security Council (NSC) to re-convene on the matter as it had in his [Sharif's] case.
Nawaz believes that the former DG ISI, through this book, has made public some "serious information" and that it was necessary to call an emergency NSC meeting to discuss the matter.
In a similar vein, Senator Raza Rabbani, while addressing the upper house last week, had remarked that if a politician had teamed up with an Indian counterpart to write a book like this, they would have been branded a traitor.
“It is shocking that on one hand Pakistan and India relations are at an all-time low and on the other hand, former spy chiefs of both the countries are teaming up to write a book,” the former Senate chairman was quoted as saying.
Comments (51) Closed
He should have gotten a formal approval/Non object from the relevant authorities before releasing the Book. That is a standard industry practice and he should know better....
How dare that he tells the truth.
Lesson learned : never talk the truth
What he said is truth. Why so much fear?
Every thing in forces is secret and is not to be told to everybody.
It's so easy to live in denial..
Please stop wasting time of this Nation. Putting name on ECL if somebody speaks truth. And from the institution he belongs, I know no body can do anything about it.
So please carry on and do something productive for this country
Anything against the state must not be tolerated.
@Srini tell this to your diplomats also.
@Mushtaq Ali Khan So state can do with its citizens is acceptable?
Civilian institutions should learn from the quick response, Nawas Sahreef case is going on and on and on for very long time.
Truth is always scary and some people will always be afraid of it.
Denial mode : ON
@Srini NO, always tell the truth.
He has only given his opinion .I read that book and found nothing new .
@Srini. Its not about saying the truth its about sharing sensitive information for possible monetary gain and fame. He should have got approval first.
There is a foreign affairs ministry to handle the affairs of the country externally. It has certain SOPs to deal with sensitive matters of the State. In the presence of such arrangements, No other citizen including Politicians, Civil and Military Bureaucracy should dare to give or share any information of State with any foreigner. It ought to be treated as crime under article 6 of the constitution.
There is a foreign affairs ministry to handle the external affairs of the country. It has certain SOPs to deal with sensitive matters of the State. No other Politicians, Civil and Military Buarcracy
He did not mention anything in his book which is not known. He should not get punishment for telling the truth.
@Srini Lesson learned, no one can suppress truth, it'll even come out after decades.
@Love Pakistan we dont jail our diplomat or put them on exit list
no beurocrat till date has been treated like that , if he has done a crime corruption ect , case is files immediately and court decides, not military or govt
When people speak the truth, they're either silenced or punished !!
Chief if ISI is a very important position for the security of the people and the country. He should be held accountable for any leak of secret information.
Just to gain profit from book sales, how's that possible that two chiefs of adverse intelligence agencies jointly wrote a book, and open all covert operations in it. This is a breach of Secrecy Act, and an appropriate action is mandatory. Similiarly GHQ may call Nawaz Sharif and ask him why he spoke diatribes, and untill the case ends his name too be put on ECL.
Book already published and circulated, so what?
Had such type of book authored by civilian, he will be labelled as traitor
Talking truth is a serious crime in Pakistan.
And Dulat is roaming around freely in india...
Civilians would be branded traitors in a heartbeat!
This book is to support nawaz stance and undermine state institutions.look at the timing!
Truth is like water........It will come out once
@Love Pakistan well our diplomat had not been put on a no fly list
It is a crime to tell the truth in Pakistan.
Interesting. Nobody cares about the book in India. A lot of people look scared about the contents of the book in Pakistan. I just wonder why?
People here think they told the truth? They are spy masters for gods sake.
Gen Durrani’s book is a commentary and represents his views and understanding derived from his experience and exposure to certain historical events which should be used by policy makers for analysis and learning lessons. However, he should have obtained clearance from the Army prior to publishing it, because it is through his service in the Army that he was privy to the information in his book
Traitor. simple
Reality can't digest by both sides officials
Now a days,, it is a very lucrative business to mint money by writing a book full of distorted truths and lies.
What benefit Mr. Durrani achieved for Pakistan. This is not speaking the truth but revealing the secrets and this is not fair. Similarly what made Nawas Sharif to speak about Mumbai attacks? What benefit did he achieve for his country. I think both Mr.Durrani and Mr.Sharif must be investigated and retributed for transgressing the legal codes.
This is how citizens are taught that truth can get them punished
He should be tried for treason...these people who owe everything to this coutnry turn around and stab it in the back for money....The Army should show by example and not follow the civilian govts where national interests are at the bottom of the priority list.
@Farooq Jawed National secrets and interests are not driven by telling the truth...no other nation indulges in such truths...sadly we do not demand truth from our political parties and leaders....
Why dont the indian intelligence personnel speak the so called truth about their countries involvement in Balochistan....
So perception in india is that whatever this book holds is true then repression by indian forces in occupied kashmir is true as well. So one cannor be selective on only one portion of this book
Only India Pak can do something like this. Atleast it proves that both are friendly to each other
No point bolting the door after the horse has left the barn.
One has to pay price for speaking truth in Pakistan
I am curious how many of those, who are either labelling him as traitor or hailing him as the hero who told the truth, have actually read the book to know whats in it? Seems to me there are very few here who have actually read it.
Most of us are prone to knee-jerk reactions making up our minds quickly one way or the other without really studying the matter objectively.
@Akil Akhtar An how r u sure about their involvment.If nothing is coming out that means nothing is there
Howcome the ISI didn't know he was writing this book ??