ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif was briefed at the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) by the agency's top brass on the functioning of its various operations and tasks.
Upon his arrival at the headquarters, DG ISI Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam received the army chief. The COAS was given a detailed briefing on the internal and external security situation of the country.
The army chief appreciated the role of ISI vis-à-vis national security and lauded the contributions and sacrifices of its officers towards strengthening national defence.
The army chief’s visit is also being seen as an attempt at dispelling the impression that the two institutions have development any differences on professional matters.
Highly-placed sources told Dawn that the army chief 's visit was also aimed at boosting the morale of the premier intelligence agency after it witnessed a series of allegations following an attack on senior journalist Hamid Mir.
Sources said senior ISI officials had expressed their anger over the allegations that have been recently levelled against the spy agency.
Sources said the ISI’s top brass briefed the army chief on sacrifices rendered by personnel working for the agency in the war against terror.
The army chief was also given a detailed briefing on the internal security environment, including in Karachi, Balochistan and the tribal areas.
General Raheel expressed satisfaction over the ISI’s role and operations in relation to national security and safeguarding the country from internal and external threats.
The ISI's intelligence sharing with national and foreign civil intelligence agencies in countering terrorism also came under discussion during the briefing.
After today’s briefing, General Raheel is expected to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at some point this week during which the army chief would take the premier into confidence on matters of national security.
Today's meeting comes just days after the rumblings over a growing civil-military divide. It was also the first ever visit of the COAS to the ISI headquarters since assuming the command of the army in November last year.
The rift which has been attributed to the trial of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, statements issued by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif as well as other factors was beginning to attain near-alarming proportions last week. It was tackled by meetings between the political and military leadership as well as an explanation by Asif who reaffirmed his "support and respect" for the armed forces.
The attack on senior journalist Hamid Mir in Karachi has however put a strain on relations again. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to constitute a three-member judicial commission to probe into the murder attempt on Mir, and also visited the injured journalist at the hospital.
Amir Mir, brother of Hamid and also a journalist, had accused some members of the ISI for the attack, saying the wounded television anchor had felt threatened beforehand.
Mateen Haider contributed to reporting.