All articles - Pakistan

The Agencies' Gazette
Syrian chemical programme, UK's Economic Crime Committee, Swedish StratCom at NATO, Pakistani ambassador in Kabul, Skopje and NATO, PLA in Taiwan

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from London to Stockholm, via Kabul and Skopje.

France/SyriaFrench company Smart Pegasus remains under sanctions for participating in Syrian chemical weapons program.

United KingdomOpposition MP's push parliamentary Economic Crime Committee project.

Sweden/LatviaSwedish anti-fake news agency shines at NATO's StratCom.

Pakistan/AfghanistanISI investigates attempted assassination of Pakistani ambassador in Kabul.

North MacedoniaSkopje intelligence chief learns the rope at NATO.

ChinaPeople's Liberation Army tests modern urban warfare techniques to hone Taiwan strategy.

Spotlight
French defence leaders keen to keep the ball rolling with India

With New Delhi's gaze still turned towards France after its acquisition of Dassault Rafales, Air Liquide, Safran, Naval Group, Thales and others are hoping for more business in India. The French Ministry of Armed Forces has all its attention focused on this window of opportunity.

French foreign trade advisers take tentative steps in Islamabad

In a bid to revive a bilateral relationship that has all but come to a standstill, French business representatives in Pakistan are trying to build a new business channel between both countries. Paris, so far, has not lent the initiative much support.

Credence Security expands foothold in forensics tech-hungry Pakistan

The Dubai cyber and forensic equipment distributor has been building its base in Pakistan, where the federal police is developing a network of laboratories in need of these technologies, driven by its Western partners wanting to push ahead in the fight against terrorism.

Saudi spymaster Khaled bin Ali Al Humaidan mediates between Islamabad and Kabul

Keen to resolve tensions with its Taliban neighbours, Pakistan has called on Saudi Arabia's help to mediate but those efforts have been unsuccessful for the moment.

Ukraine corporate intelligence firm COSA sets up shop in Islamabad

COSA, a Kyiv-based corporate intelligence firm, is extending its operations into South Asia with the imminent opening of an office in Pakistan and the recruitment of local business and diplomatic figures.

Army chief Qamer Javed Bajwa wants more time to improve relations with Saudi Arabia

A key figure in the Pakistani state hierarchy, chief of the army staff Qamer Javad Bajwa wants his tenure extended so that he can continue to work on improving Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia and deal with pressing security issues, like the growing influence of the Pakistani Taliban movement.

Bristol Engineering Service, the Pakistani deep state's Emirati relay

The Dubai-based company led by businessman Majjid Bashir Ahmed serves as one of the Pakistani deep state's offshore tools. It helps connect Islamabad's defence industry with foreign buyers and contributes to the country's stock of foreign military equipment.

Emirati bankers extra-vigilant in Islamabad after fall of Imran Khan

In the space of just 10 days, Pakistan saw the deadline for repayment of a $2bn loan from the Emirates extended, Prime Minister Imran Khan brought down and Shebhaz Sharif appointed in his place. In this unstable period, the Emirati business community is keeping a close eye on its key assets in the country.

Islamabad seeks Saudi funds to finance military industry

Pakistan is strengthening its intelligence cooperation with Saudi Arabia and is also keen to see more Saudi investment in its defence industry, which was discussed at the first edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh earlier this month.

The Agencies' Gazette
Rosfinmonitoring, Pakistan's ISI

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community, this week from Moscow and Islamabad.

RussiaFinancial intelligence gagged

PakistanInter-Services Intelligence Peshawar network slips up

ISI worries about protecting Chinese investments in troubled Balochistan

With the presence of secessionist factions, the Pakistani Taliban branch and the local affiliate of Islamic State, the province of Balochistan, where China is carrying out a number of major projects, has become increasingly unstable.

Islamabad tries to force Pakistani Talibans back to the border following truce breakdown

Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence believed that it could bring the country's Talibans back into line by organising a truce. Now that the truce has been broken, however, spy chiefs are concentrating on securing Pakistan's border with Afghanistan at the risk of alienating their allies in Kabul.

Riyadh renews contact with Taliban via Pakistani intelligence

Saudi Arabia, which is keen to find a new role for itself in Afghanistan, has contacted Pakistan's omnipresent Inter-Services Intelligence, which is already engaged in helping rebuild the Taliban army. Riyadh sees Afghanistan as offering a new opportunity to counter the activities of its rival, Iran, which is watching the new Saudi-Pakistani partnership uneasily.

Afghan Taliban mediate between their Pakistani counterparts and the government in Islamabad

Faced with a resurgence in the activities of the Taliban Pakistani branch, Tehrik-i-Taliban, the Pakistani intelligence services have opted for dialogue rather than armed repression. They asked the new rulers in Afghanistan to negotiate a truce, which was finally concluded on 9 November.