Bajwa visits ISI Headquarters amid tension with Imran Khan, meeting with Faiz Hamid

Amid the ongoing tussle between the Pakistan Army and the Imran Khan government over the appointment of the next ISI chief, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday visited the headquarters of Pakistan's intelligence agency. During this, he discussed the internal security and the ongoing situation in Afghanistan with ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hamid.

According to the Dawn report, Bajwa was received by ISI Director General Faiz Hamid. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said they were briefed about internal security and the current situation in Afghanistan. General Bajwa expressed satisfaction over the preparations of the organization.

The meeting is taking place amid the ongoing standoff between the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government and the army over the appointment of the next ISI chief. On October 6, the army announced that the current ISI chief, Lt Gen Hameed, has been made Peshawar Corps commander, while Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum has been appointed in his place.

However, the Prime Minister's Office has not issued an official notification for the appointment of Lt Gen Anjum since then, triggering a tense situation in relations between the government and the Army. After several days of speculation, on October 12, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said that the Prime Minister has the right to appoint the ISI chief and the prescribed procedure would be followed for the purpose. He said that the legal process will be followed in the appointment of the new DG ISI, to which both General Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran have agreed.