Pakistan closes ISI's political wing

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's government has closed the political wing of the Inter-Services Intelligence, its military-run spy agency.

The decision may have far reaching impact on the country's political and democratic systems, Dawn newspaper said. The three-decade old political wing within the ISI, which some have said is like a state within a state, had been actively involved in monitoring and managing political activities inside and outside the government, the report said.

The Dawn report, quoting what it called a highly authoritative source, said the change would allow the ISI to deal more with urgent tasks such as the war against terror.

The Financial Times reported the decision is a bold move to reduce the military's influence in politics.

The report said the decision follows Zardari's recent overtures to India to abandon Pakistan's first-strike nuclear threat, sign a South Asian nuclear non-proliferation treaty and join India in an economic union.

The Dawn said with the decision the ISI has dissociated itself from making or breaking of political parties and alliances.

The Financial Times said the ISI has played a role in supporting insurgents in Kashmir and militants in Afghanistan during the Russian occupation of the country.