Asad Ahmed Durrani, a Pakistan armed officer, retired as a three-star rank general. He also remained the Director General of the ISI. He served as Director General in Military Intelligence. I am a multi-disciplinary person working as a commentator, speaker and author.
Biography
Asad Durrani was born in Rawalpindi on February 7, 1947. He belongs to a Durrani Pashtun family. Asad started schooling in his native city. After completing his education in Rawalpindi, he joined the Government College of Lahore for his Bachelor’s degree in 1957. He completed his Bachelor of Science in 1959.
Career
Asad Durrani started his military career in 1959 by joining the Pakistan Army. He became second Lieutenant in 1960. In 1965, Asad was captain and commanded his company during the Indo-Pakistan war. He continued the progress and became a Major in 1968. In 1971, he participated in the fight against India.
Asad got the opportunity to study at General Staff Academy, Germany. He completed his graduation from Germany. In 1980, Asad became Pakistan’s military attaché to Germany. He served in Germany till 1084.
Asad served as an instructor at the Officers Academy in 1988. He also served as an instructor in Command and Staff College in Quetta. Asad served in critical posts, including Director General of Military Intelligence in 1989. In 1990, he became Director General of the ISI. Asad remained in this post till 1991. He also served as Inspector General Training and Evaluation at the General Headquarters and Commandant at the National Defense College.
After he retired from the Pakistan Army, the government sent Asad Durrani as ambassador to Germany in 1994. He remained ambassador in Germany till 1997. Later, in 2000, he became Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, where he served till 2002.
Allegations
Asad got an allegation from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1994. Nawaz has charged Asad and Mirza Aslam that they wanted to sell heroin to meet the underground military operation in 1991. Asad accepted in 2008 that he was involved in paying money to the alliance against PPP “Benazir Bhutto” in the general elections of Pakistan in 1993. This operation is famous with the name of Midnight Jackal.
Asad gave a controversial interview to the journalist Mehdi Hasan of Al Jazeera channel. They had an interview at Oxford Union, where Asad said that the Pakistani government probably knew the location of the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden. He further added that it was the right idea to do a deal before the opening of his place.
Controversial Book Author
Asad, with A. S. Dulat wrote a book, “The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace”, in 2018. A. S. Dulat remained head of the Research and Analysis Wing in India. Asad has plans to join the opening ceremony of the book in India; however, the Indian government refused to give him a visa. The Pakistan Army took the notice and issued a summons against Durrani to appear before General Headquarters to defend himself concerning the book. Later, the Pakistani government put his name on the Exit Control List.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wants an inquiry against the book. He demanded that the Nation Security Committee see the matter. In October 2018, a statement came from Asad Durrani’s lawyer, who said that Asad had not received any notice from the National Security Committee. Therefore, the government should remove Asad’s name from the Exit Control List.
The case against Durrani was open, and on February 22 2019, the military court charged Asad that he had violated Pakistan’s Military Code of Conduct. As a result, the court has ordered to stop Asad Durrani’s pension and other benefits. The decision to remove or keep Asad’s name in the Exit Control List is still pending.
Awards
The Pakistan military honored the services of Asad Durrani and awarded him Hilal-e-Imtiaz.
Conclusion
Asad Durrani was a brilliant Army officer who not only took part in wars from Pakistan but was also in a commandant position. He was a hard worker and remained in important critical posts in the Army; he has served as ambassador of Pakistan in Germany and Saudi Arabia. However, he met with severe allegations, especially the controversial book’s co-authorship.