Military Intelligence (Pakistan)

The Directorate for Military Intelligence, known as "Military Intelligence" (MI), is the intelligence arm of the Pakistan Army. It is headquartered at the General Headquarters (Pakistan Army) in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Military Intelligence of Pakistan
Military Intelligence of Pakistan
Active	1948-present
Country	Pakistan
Branch	Pakistan Army
Type	Intelligence
Garrison/HQ	GHQ, Rawalpindi
Nickname(s)	MI
Commanders
Director General	Major General Azhar Waqas

Unlike the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the MI is composed entirely of uniformed Army officers and soldiers whose primary mission is to determine the military capability and any other information related to, military forces of hostile countries. Besides it is also tasked with gathering offensive counter-insurgency intelligence, identifying and eliminating sleeper cells, foreign agents and other anti-state elements within Pakistan, including investigation of military espionage.[1]

Historical overview

The agency (MI) was created by Major General Robert Cawthom, who also served as its first Director. Major General Cawthom later established the ISI Directorate in the 1950s. Prior to the successful imposition of the coup d'état against the government of President Major General (retired) Iskander Mirza, the MI's Director General Major General Syed Shahid Hamid reported to the then-Commander-in-Chief (Chief of Army Staff) Field Marshal Ayub Khan.[1] The MI reported that Martial Law was promulgated in the entire country, both East-Pakistan and West-Pakistan.[1]

In the 1980s, MI's activities included operations in Sindh against the Pakistan Communist Party (CPP) and Indian intelligence operatives.[1]

The MI was also active during the Kargil war where Major General Jamshed Gulzar Kiani led a series of Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) against the enemy. However, the MI staged another coup d'état against the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The MI played a significant and integral role in bringing General Pervez Musharraf, Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Army and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, to political power.

Organization

The MI works in coordination with Air Intelligence (AI) of the Pakistan Air Force and Naval Intelligence (NI) of the (Pakistan Navy). It reports to the DG MI. All the appointed officers and enlisted personnel are from the Army. MI is one of the five main intelligence services in Pakistan. It is tasked with monitoring the military capabilities of its adversaries, counter-espionage operations, identifying and eliminating sleeper cells and foreign agents; the MI also keeps a close eye on the activities of officers within the Pakistan Army.[2] The MI was headed by a Pakistan Army three-star general, Lieutenant General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah .[2]

See also

• The Establishment (Pakistan)
• Inter-Services Intelligence

References

1. "Military Intelligence". globalsecurity.org. Global Security.org. 2000. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
2. https://fas.org/irp/world/pakistan/mi/index.html