Gen Gul’s biggest confessions

How history would remember ex-ISI boss Lt. Gen. (R) Hameed Gul? For his supporters, he has left a “school of thought” and a mindset for his followers, but for his opponents no one at this position became as controversial as the late General himself, who changed the political dynamics of Pakistan.
He died on August 15, two days before the 27th death anniversary of General Ziaul Haq on August 17.
Very few people feel pride over being blamed for a controversy, but Gen Gul never denied his role in some highly controversial decisions.
In fact, he proudly confessed and was even ready to face a trial. Whether one agrees with his views or not, but he had the ability to strongly defend his position.
With so many controversies surrounding his personality, what was his biggest confession?
Was it the making of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) in 1988 elections in a bid to keep Benazir Bhutto’s possible landslide or his intelligence failure of August 17, 1988 plane crash in which General Zia died along with General Akhtar Abdur Rehman?
In a recent interview, the General admitted that he had misunderstood Benazir Bhutto. He also admitted his mistake and intelligence failure of August 17 crash as he was the ISI chief then.
Gen. Gul had served on many top positions from DGMO to Corp Commander, Lahore, but none of his predecessors or successors left so many controversies as he did during his two years as DG ISI from 1987 to 1989.
He always termed the plane crash part of an “international conspiracy” as he also considered the same about the “Ojhri Camp” explosion, which destroyed huge arms and ammunition. The incident caused many causalities in Pindi and Islamabad.
But, the sons of late General Ziaul Haq, Lt. Gen. Akhtar Abdur Rehman and late Brigadier Siddiq Salik had different views about August 17 tragedy from those of General Gul.
He always believed that American lobby was after his life because of his role in the “Afghan jihad.” He was considered as ideological mentor of some Jehadi groups including the Taliban. But, in one of his recent interviews he disclosed that some Taliban factions were now under the influence of the Indian RAW.
General Gul played leading role in developing a “jehadi mindset,” which later turned into an extremist mindset. He defended the decision to spread over five million Afghan refugees across Pakistan, the decision which had far-reaching impact.
He firmly opposed “Geneva Accord,” agreed by former Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo and termed it against the “national interest.” Later, Junejo was sacked in May, 1988.
I interviewed the General many times for both print and electronic media, but to me his biggest confession was not that he had made an opposition alliance against the former prime minister, but his mistake to “understand Benazir Bhutto.” It was perhaps in 2009 when I interviewed him for a private TV channel.
“To be very honest, I misunderstood Benazir Bhutto in 1988 when she was at the peak of her popularity; otherwise I would not have even tried to unite the opposition.
I thought she would take revenge of her father’s execution. But, she turned out to be a true patriotic Pakistani, as there was no element of revenge in her,” he confessed.
Gen. Gul further said: “My longest interaction with her was when after taking oath as prime minister she visited the ISI headquarters and took a briefing on national security particularly on Afghan policy. I found her quite knowledgeable on the issue.
Pakistan’s political dynamics were changed after 1988 elections. For the first time, a woman was elected as prime minister of an Islamic world. It was because of perception about her that also led rigging in 1990 elections, but Gul said, “I had retired when 1990 elections were held.”
“I apprehended that after winning the elections she could follow the policy of revenge against those within the army, who played some role in her father’s execution. But, I was wrong,” he confessed.
He denied that Benazir had ever ordered “roll back” of Pakistan’s nuclear program and added,” it is also a propaganda that I ever considered her a security risk.”
Despite confessions and admission of his mistake in understanding her, the former prime minister always had apprehension about his role in destabilization of her first government, first, through the formation of IJI and then during the vote of no-confidence against her in 1989.
General Gul was surprised when for the first time he heard that Benazir Bhutto had also named him along with former army chief General Pervez Musharraf, former IB chief Brig Ejaz Shah and former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi in her written complaint after October 18, 2007 twin suicide blast in Karachi on her procession.
“After hearing the news I contacted her and asked her to withdraw my name as I had nothing to do with any such attack nor was I involved in any conspiracy. She accepted it and as far as I know she deleted my name from the complaint,” he stated.
He also regarded Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as the father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and believed that he was against his execution but was not in a position to influence General Zia.
There is no doubt that General Gul was considered an upright soldier and the kind of position he held during his career speaks of itself. He is also regarded as Pakistan’s most powerful ISI chief, but it was his role in internal politics, which made him the most controversial figure on this position.
Therefore, one expects a debate in the media, particularly in the print media, on his role and the political and ideological legacy he has left behind. The General is dead but his legacy may live on.
May Allah give his family the strength to bear the heavy loss!
The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang.