ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said there was “no problem” in relations between the Pakistan army and the civilian government, reiterating that the appointment of a new head of the powerful ISI military spy agency last week had taken place “as usual.”

The minister’s comments on Monday came amid widespread media speculation in Pakistan about an alleged rift between Prime Minister Imran Khan and army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa over last week’s appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmad Anjum as DG ISI. 

The army is arguably the most influential institution in Pakistan, with the military having ruled the country for about half of its 74-year history since independence from Britain and enjoying extensive powers even under civilian administrations.

By turn, the head of the ISI occupies one of the most important posts in Pakistan. He is customarily appointed by the prime minister on the advice of the army chief.

Though Gen Anjum’s appointment was announced by the army’s media wing on October 6, the PM House has not yet released an official notification about the posting, fueling speculation.

“Everything is okay,” the interior minister said at a press conference when asked about a civil-military rift, adding that only the information or defense ministers could comment on the matter. “I’m not in a position to give an official statement.”

“However, I want to say that the civil-military relations are steady and there is no problem in this regard. Whenever transfers are made, they take place as usual.”

While announcing the new DG ISI, the army also transferred the current head of the ISI, Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, as Corps Commander Peshawar.

The military intelligence agency is widely believed to have a hidden role in making many of the nuclear-armed nation’s policies, including on Afghanistan and India. The threat to Pakistan from nuclear-armed neighboring India has been a main preoccupation of the ISI through the decades.