COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: October 2026
The Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) is Pakistan’s main and largest intelligence agency and is widely regarded as highly influential in state policy and security matters. It is a military-run body headed by a three-star army general, while its board and core staff are mainly composed of military officers, with civilian personnel in support roles. The agency has internal and external wings, as well as specialised sections, and is involved in both foreign intelligence and domestic surveillance. The ISI and the armed forces reportedly monitor phone calls, text messages and internet activity. Mass-surveillance has been linked to the repression of dissent, including extrajudicial killings and disappearances, particularly in Balochistan.