Afg-Pak Intelligence MoU will be revised, finalized by officials – NDS

Social and political pressures prompted the Afghan National Unity government to rethink the intelligence MoU with Pakistan.

Deputy Spokesman for Afghanistan Chief Executive Office said,” The MoU was signed earlier, but after political figures pressured, the government held a session and decided to revise three controversial articles of the MoU. The MoU will be signed again after revisions.”

Earlier, the Afghan government signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” with Pakistan intelligence agency – Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on mutual cooperation to fight against terrorism.

A large number of Afghan political figures including former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, lawmakers, civil society activist, and ordinary people criticized the three controversial articles of the MoU mainly emphasizing on opening an intelligence office for ISI in Afghanistan, training Afghan intelligence in Pakistan and a joint cooperation against separatists.

Karzai demanded the NUG leaders to invalidate the intelligence accord with Pakistan immediately and asked his successor to avoid signing any agreement against the national interest of Afghanistan.

In addition, according to a security source the National Directorate of Security (NDS) director, Rahmatullah Nabil was against the agreement signed with Pakistan spy agency (ISI), but the agreement was signed by NDS deputy.

But Afghan intelligence service released a statement on Sunday 24 May saying this MoU is not final yet, concerns have risen through media. Adding the MoU between NDS – ISI should pass the following five stages before it is being executed.

First stage: Context, scope and authority of the agreement must be determined by the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Second stage: Afg-Pak intelligence MoU will be reviewed and edited by Afghan governmental institutions officials (National Directorate of Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chief Executive Office of Afghanistan, and the National Security Advisor Office of Afghanistan) under the leadership of the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Third stage: The MoU will be discussed on the national security council of Afghanistan.

Fourth stage: The MoU will be consulted with political elders, Jihadi leaders, and lawmakers to come to a conclusion.

Fifth stage: Finally, the draft of the MoU will be presented to the government of Pakistan.

This statement released after earlier both the NDS and the Afghan Presidential Palace spokesmen announced that the intelligence MoU is inked between Kabul and Islamabad and according to the reports there will be no cancellation, but the MoU will be approved by Afghan parliament.

Reported by: Hameed Sediqi