New DG ISI vows to overcome challenges

Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: The newly-appointed Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI), Lieutenant General Zaheer-ul Islam, has vowed to put his best efforts for the service of Pakistan and said though the job was a challenging and tough one, he would confront and overcome the difficulties.

In a brief chat with The News soon after his appointment, he said: "I need the prayers and good wishes of friends and brothers. God willing we will surmount the difficulties coming our way."

Gen Islam said he had been assigned the task of DG ISI in challenging times when the internal and external situations were both complex. "But I am sure we will prevail over the situation," he said.

The new DG ISI had the distinction of serving the organisation under two DGs, including Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha as a two-star general before he was promoted and appointed corps commander Karachi. He also served in the internal wing of the ISI. General Zaheer comes from a family with a splendid record of service to the army.

The general will come to the federal capital next Saturday to assume the new assignment and will call on the president, prime minister, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC) and COAS separately the following week.