ISLAMABAD - With the appointment of Lt-Gen Zahirul Islam as ISI’s new Director General, bilateral intelligence cooperation between Islamabad and Kabul would deepen in the days to come, diplomatic sources said on Sunday.

The sources said that Zahirul Islam would be playing a key role in boosting bilateral intelligence sharing between Pakistan and Afghanistan because of his deep association with the process initiated by the leadership of the two countries to strengthen bilateral relations.
Sources said during his last posting in country’s premier intelligence agency as Director General internal security, Zahirul Islam has been associated with process and strategy in tackling threats to Pakistan’s national security as a result of war against terror.
‘Zahirul Islam has been picked up for the new position after diligently completing the due process. Like his predecessors, he is a very upright and competent officer to take on challenges’, military sources said.
Sources said apart from boosting bilateral intelligence sharing between Islamabad and Kabul, Zahirul Islam would also play a key role in boosting Afghan owned and Afghan led reconciliation process for lasting peace and stability in the region.
‘The most important challenge for Zahirul Islam would be developing deep relations with the Afghan intelligence and security agencies in order to tackle common threats’, the sources said.
Diplomatic and military sources were not sure whether he would have any direct role in the Qatar process saying since Pakistan has supporting role in any Afghan owned and Afghan led initiative, therefore, he could assist the Afghan side.
‘It all depends on the Afghan government how much it would like to engage Pakistan in the reconciliation process’, sources said, adding, that it was still unclear whether Afghan government supports the Qatar process which was primarily initiated by the US and its key allies and NATO members UK and Germany.