Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha, director general of the military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, was due to retire March 18 but will remain in office for another year, prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's official sources told Arab News.
Pasha, a former head of military operations for Pakistan's Army, was appointed head of the ISI in September 2008, months after US officials questioned the reliability of the spy agency in the campaign against militancy.
Such questions have largely ended under his leadership, however, since security forces mounted big offensives against militants in the northwest over the past year.
The powerful ISI has often taken the lead in combating militants, who have been attacking the agency as well as other security and government targets. It also plays a major role in foreign policy.
Pasha has been playing a key role in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. Meanwhile Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Islamabad on a five-day official visit. During his visit Karzai will hold meetings with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and other important figures. He will discuss a host of issues including the arrests of Afghan Taleban leaders in Pakistan.
With input from agencies
