TO question the role of the ISI is regarded as an anti-Pakistan stance. Secret agencies reportedly keep track of foreign students, especially women students, who are doing their research in Pakistan.

These foreign students need to visit the interior ministry time and again to get an NOC to conduct research in different parts of country.

They face many unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles in this regard.

While doing my fieldwork in Gilgit Baltistan for six months for my M.Phil research, I came across many researchers from different Western countries who had to report to the ISI officials concerned in Gilgit town every day and inform them about their daily activities.

Especially in Gilgit the environmentfor research is under the control of agencies.

I request the interior ministry and all heads of agency to focus on terrorists and let researchers do their assignments for their dissertations.

SOHAIB RIAZ
Islamabad