In a surprise move, Pak replaces spy agency chief
LT GEN FAIZ HAMEED HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS PESHAWAR’S CORPS COMMANDER IN LIGHT OF TALIBAN COMING TO POWER IN NEIGHBOURING AFGHANISTAN
ISLAMABAD: In a surprise military shake-up, the Pakistan army on Wednesday announced that the powerful spy agency Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed has been appointed as Peshawar corps commander - a crucial position in view of the Taliban’s takeover of neighbouring Afghanistan.
Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum was appointed as the new directorgeneral of ISI in place of Lt Gen Hameed, who was transferred as Peshawar corps commander, said the Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army.
The ISI chief is appointed by the prime minister but as part of a tradition he executes this power in consultation with the Pakistan army chief.
The post of ISI chief is considered one of the most important in the Pakistan army, which has ruled the country for more than half of its 73 plus years of existence and has hitherto wielded considerable power in the matters of security and foreign policy.
Initially, the army said that Lt Gen Hameed was posted out but his replacement on the key post of the ISI chief was not immediately announced.
Lt Gen Anjum, who belongs to the Punjab Regiment of the Pakistan army, has served as Karachi corps commander as well as the commandant of Command and Staff College Quetta.
He is considered as a battlehardened soldier who commanded the Frontier Corps Balochistan as its inspector general and oversaw many operations against terrorists.
Media reports said that his subordinates call him the “man with glacier brain but sharp reflexes”.
His predecessor Lt Gen Hameed from the Baloch Regiment was appointed as head of the spy agency on June 16, 2019. He had previously served in the ISI as the head of internal security.
Hameed, who is considered close to army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, had served in the ISI for two-and-a-half years before being promoted to the rank of Lt Gen.