Richards, Julian Pakistan's ISI. A concise history of the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate

An introduction to Pakistan's ISI, which was both an important ally and a problematic partner of the USA. The Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) was established in the turbulent aftermath of partition in 1947 and has grown to become the most important intelligence agency in Pakistan. Its capabilities are extensive, its remit encompasses both foreign and domestic intelligence, and it is one of the most feared and respected agencies in the Global South. This study provides an up-to-date and detailed introduction to the ISI and its historical development. The narrative is based on a deep and wide-ranging contextualisation of the state of Pakistan and its security environment. The story is about an agency that has grown from humble beginnings into a highly capable and robust force at the heart of the state's power. The ISI utilises a wide network of human intelligence and employs covert action and support for militant groups, particularly in the context of its rivalry with India. As a key intelligence partner of the West during the Cold War and into the present, the ISI has been both an important ally and a problematic partner. The shadow of this agency continues to loom over Pakistan's democratic institutions.