No political cell in ISI: Defence secretary
23 October, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Defence Secretary, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asif Yaseen has said no political cell has been working in Inter-Services Intelligence for the last five years.
A meeting of Senate's committee for Defence and Defence production was held on Monday in closed doors led by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed.
Members of the committee, Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, Tahir Mashhadi, Raja Zafar Akmal and Farhatullah Babar also participated in the meeting.
Defence secretary, Asif Yaseen said that during the current year, Rs 92 billion have been allocated for intelligence agencies and institutions for defence production, which makes 16 percent of the total defence budget that is worth Rs 545 billion.
On the occasion, Senator Mushahid Hussain told the committee that a briefing about the intelligence agencies would be conducted during the next meeting.
Defence secretary, Asif Yaseen further told the meeting that Pakistan received no payment from the US for lending Shamsi airbase. The airbase was under the use of the United Arab Emirates, he noted. He stated that in the past, Shamsi airbase was used for drone attacks in accordance with the will of the Pakistani officials.
He informed that on account of defence expenditures, Pakistan occupies 33rd place in the world, by spending 6 billion dollars.
He apprised the members of the committee that in India, the payment of military pension is made from the civilian budget, however, if the government decides to change the current policy, it will be implemented accordingly.
Defence secretary Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Asif Yaseen informed that Pakistan has been given 12 billion dollars on account of Coalition Support Fund. He said that the family members of the martyrs of war on terror are being given scholarship for international military agency training program.
Chairman Committee Mushahidullah announced that the first defence policy strategic document would be released in January 2013.
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