ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army has ordered “a formal court of inquiry” into retired Pakistani spymaster Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani who has become the center of attention over his damning revelations in a 255-page co-authored published book entitled, “The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace.”
Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor late Friday evening posted on social media that Durrani had been summoned to army headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Monday to explain his “attribution taken as violation of the Military Code of Conduct applicable to all serving and retired military personnel."
Durrani appeared before an army review panel at the “GHQ” (General Headquarters) on Monday, according to an army statement, in order “to explain his position about the recently launched book." Subsequently, the army ordered a detailed probe, headed by “a serving lietenant general,” against the retired three-star general.
The army has also approached the relevant authority, probably the Federal Investigation Agency, “to place the name” of the former Inter-Services Intelligence chief on the country’s “Exit Control List” to prevent Durrani from traveling abroad.
“I am not willing to talk on this subject with anyone," repeated Durrani speaking from his home to Arab News. He has maintained his silence by refusing to clarify how he was able to obtain classified information of events, some of which happened after his tenure serving as head of Pakistan’s prime intelligence agency from 1990 to 1992.
The book, penned in a casual dialogue format between Durrani and former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Amarjit Singh Dulat, moderated by Indian journalist Aditya Sinha, reveals some startling pieces of information ranging from disputed Kashmir, Indian and Pakistani relations, spies and clandestine agencies, politics and heads of state, to doctrines, Afghanistan, Russia, the US, and Bin Laden.
“There are chances that he will be penalized by looking at public pressure and social media campaigns against him,” said political analyst Qamar Cheema to Arab News. “He’s already a liability for the military as he distorted the army’s image in the 1990s while choreographing alliances against the (left wing) Pakistan People’s Party and doling out money to politicians."
The unsubstantiated revelations, whether true, exaggerated, or false, also caught political attention. Deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, speaking to reporters outside the accountability court Friday said, “An NSC (National Security Committee) meeting should be convened to discuss the threats that come with Durrani’s new book written with a former RAW chief."
Sharif was subjected to national criticism earlier this month over his statement that the 2008 Mumbai attacks were interpreted as an admission of Pakistan’s involvement in the act of terror. An NSC meeting was convened which condemned Sharif’s remarks.
However in this case, Durrani’s book “crossed the line” said Khalid Mohammed, director general of the Islamabad-based think tank, Command Eleven, who said that punitive measures might be taken against the former spy chief by the army.
“A gag order barring him from commenting on military affairs can be passed; they can suspend his pension and take away his army allotted land and the potential of that happening to him is very high.”
Mohammed said Durrani condemned himself by authoring a highly controversial book with a former Indian RAW chief.
“You carried a Pakistani flag on your shoulder; you were a member of Pakistan’s armed forces, and you have benefited from the armed forces. Therefore you are accountable," concluded Khalid, adding that Durrani must explain the motives behind his revelations which are viewed as state secrets.
Pakistani Army orders inquiry against ex-spy chief; bars him from traveling abroad
Pakistani Army orders inquiry against ex-spy chief; bars him from traveling abroad
- Military probe ordered against retired three-star general
- Army notifies relevant state department to bar Durrani’s travel overseas
Pakistan says repaid over $13.06 billion domestic debt early in last 14 months
- Finance adviser says repayment shows “decisive shift” toward fiscal discipline, responsible economic management
- Says Pakistan’s total public debt has declined from over $286.6 billion in June 2025 to $284.7 billion in November 2025
KARACHI: Pakistan has repaid Rs3,650 billion [$13.06 billion] in domestic debt before time during the last 14 months, Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad said on Thursday, adding that the achievement reflected a shift in the country’s approach toward fiscal discipline.
Schehzad said Pakistan has been repaying its debt before maturity, owed to the market as well as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), since December 2024. He said the government had repaid the central bank Rs300 billion [$1.08 billion] in its latest repayment on Thursday.
“This landmark achievement reflects a decisive shift toward fiscal discipline, credibility, and responsible economic management,” Schehzad wrote on social media platform X.
Giving a breakdown of what he said was Pakistan’s “early debt retirement journey,” the finance official said Pakistan retired Rs1,000 billion [$3.576 billion] in December 2024, Rs500 billion [$1.78 billion] in June 2025, Rs1,160 billion [$4.150 billion] in August 2025, Rs200 billion [$715 million] in October 2025, Rs494 billion [$1.76 billion] in December 2025 and $1.08 billion in January 2026.
He said with the latest debt repaid today, the July to January period of fiscal year 2026 alone recorded Rs2,150 billion [$7.69 billion] in early retirement, which was 44 percent higher than the debt retired in FY25.
He said of the total early repayments, the government has repaid 65 percent of the central bank’s debt, 30 percent of the treasury bills debt and five percent of the Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) debt.
The official said Pakistan’s total public debt has declined from over Rs 80.5 trillion [$286.6 billion] in June 2025 to Rs80 trillion [$284.7 billion] in November 2025.
“Crucially, Pakistan’s debt-to-GDP ratio, around 74 percent in FY22, has declined to around 70 percent, reflecting a broader strengthening of fiscal fundamentals alongside disciplined debt management,” Schehzad wrote.
Pakistan’s government has said the country’s fragile economy is on an upward trajectory. The South Asian country has been trying to navigate a tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.
