In the book, Durrani has revealed that track-II diplomacy was in place since long aimed at averting war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani defence experts believe that there could be greater scrutiny on the role of the powerful Pakistan Army after the revelations by former ISI chief Lt Gen Asad Durrani (Retd) in a controversial book co-authored by him opened a "Pandora's Box", pressing it to keep its own house in order.
According to the Express Tribune newspaper, the defence experts also said the new book has benefited the beleaguered former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif to a great extent as he has been facing severe criticism for his comment on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack in a newspaper interview.
Brigadier Said Nazir Mohmand (Retd) told the paper that the ousted premier Sharif seems to be the beneficiary as the former ISI chief has directly talked about the issues, considered sensitive.
"Indian spy agency RAW and ISI have been fighting against each other since long and now ISI's former boss talks about some controversial matters. Now the criticism will be diverted to Pakistan Army, pressing it to keep its own house in order," Nazir said.
The powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half its history since independence in 1947, is considered a major player in the country's politics.
The release of the book has sparked accusations of treachery against the former spy chief after his candid views on various matters of regional and global concern came under intense public scrutiny, the Dawn newspaper reported.
Nazir said Durrani unveiled some top events in Pakistan which were highly classified.
"The former RAW chief (Amarjit Singh Dulat) has been very guarded while Durrani has been extrovert as such topics have opened a Pandora's Box," Nazir commented.
The Pakistan Army which summoned Durrani to the General Headquarters today to demand an explanation from him on the views attributed to him in his book, has instituted a Court of Inquiry and banned him from leaving the country.
In the book, Durrani has revealed that track-II diplomacy was in place since long aimed at averting war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The basic idea of this book is to discuss steps which could help avert surgical strikes on behalf of India if untoward incidents like Mumbai attacks happen again, Nazir added.
Another defence analyst Khalid Muhammad told the Express Tribune that looking at former ISI Director General's collaborative book with the former RAW chief Dulat "it is hard not to consider the timing and the content."
"While the book is formulated as a discussion between two former intelligence chiefs, we have to understand with the current climate against Pakistan, this book is a landmine."
"With the elections on horizon, Durrani's statements paint a very negative image of the Pakistan Army and the ISI in relation to events that happened in the past and continue to affect Pakistan's domestic and regional policy," he said.
According to him who is also the writer of a spy novel, Agency Rules, it should also be taken into consideration that he [Durrani] did not leave Pakistan Army under stellar conditions. He was deposed as DG-ISI and forced to retire early.
"Whether his statements are taken seriously, or from the point of view of someone who was in the most powerful seat in Pakistan, the statements made in the discussion presented in the book are going to be difficult for any Pakistani to absorb or accept," he said.
While responding to a question he said India would be the actual beneficiary after publishing of the book.
Sharif will be benefited indirectly because attention has been diverted to the Pakistan Army rather than keeping it firmly focused on him, he said.
Muhammad said the book will add more weight to Sharif's argument of an "over-active" army in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Army summoning the former ISI chief and action taken against him comes after Sharif and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani voiced their reservations over the book.
Sharif last week demanded that an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee be summoned over the book, while Rabbani, who formerly served as the Chairman of the Senate, also severely criticised the teaming up of former chiefs of Pakistan and India's spy agencies to write the book.