Inter-Services Intelligence activities in the United Kingdom

Inter-Services Intelligence activities in the United Kingdom
Part of Pakistan–United Kingdom relations

Location United Kingdom
Objective Operational

This article lists activities or field operations reportedly undertaken by the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the United Kingdom.

Background

ISI's operations in the UK have been described as "among the most comprehensive outside Pakistan", drawing heavily upon the support of the 1.2-million-strong British Pakistani community.[1] ISI's interests in Britain may be projected through intelligence officials posted at the High Commission of Pakistan in London and at consulates elsewhere.[1] British intelligence agencies such as MI6 maintain counter-terrorism cooperation with the ISI.[1]

2006

When the Pakistani cricket team toured England in 2006, the English Cricket Board (ECB) invited former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, living in exile in London at that time, to the VIP enclosure at a match in Lords as cricket diplomacy. Sharif was a political opponent of the Musharraf-led government back in Pakistan. Shahryar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman at that time, received a telephone call from an ISI official posted at the Pakistani High Commission enquiring "how Nawaz Sharif had received the invitation which he could exploit in his favour with the Pakistan media."[2] The official pressed Khan to request the ECB to cancel the invitation, thinking the latter had been involved. In his book, Khan remarks that "I brusquely informed the ISI Brigadier that I had no hand in the invitation and had no contact with Nawaz Sharif, my former boss... and that his invitation to the box had been made independently by the ECB."[2]

2011

According to a report by The Telegraph, Pakistani spies had been operating a Kashmir lobbying group in London. The organisation's objectives were similar to that of the Kashmiri American Council, another non-governmental lobbying group based in Washington and led by Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, which also received ISI support. These groups sought to influence the government's positions on the Kashmir conflict in their respective host countries.[3] Based in central London and founded by Kashmiri activist Ayub Thakur, The Justice Foundation, however, describes itself as a non-aligned organisation. It has arranged conferences and events in the House of Commons and House of Lords focusing on human rights issues in Jammu and Kashmir and conflict resolution on Kashmir. The group has hosted several Labour, Conservative and Liberal-Democrat MPs, as well as politicians from Pakistan, and received messages of support from then Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mayor of London Ken Livingston amongst others.[4] Conferences such as these draw strongly upon the support of the British Kashmiri community.[1]

2014

Some Indian sources alleged that the ISI supported pro-Khalistan movement activists based in the UK, convening a training course for them in 2014 in Mae Sot, Thailand.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ray, Ashis (7 March 2011). "UK keeps eyes shut as ISI uses turf to hit India". Times of India. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 Khan, Shahryar; Khan, Ali (2013). Cricket Cauldron: The Turbulent Politics of Sport in Pakistan. I.B.Tauris. p. 131. ISBN 9781780760834.
  3. ↑ Gardham, Duncan (19 July 2011). "Pakistani spies 'operating in Britain'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Gardham, Duncan (12 August 2011). "'Pakistani spies' in the Houses of Parliament". The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 July 2015. US prosecutors claim that three “Kashmir Centers” in Washington, London and Brussels, are run on behalf of “elements of the Pakistani government, including Pakistan’s military intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI).
  5. ↑ Sharma, Pawan (6 February 2015). "Pak spy agency ISI trained Khalistani terrorists in Thailand". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
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