ISLAMABAD: Newly appointed spymaster Lt Gen Faiz Hameed on Tuesday met Prime Minister Imran Khan after assuming charge of his office.

“DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in his office on assumption of appointment,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Lt Gen Faiz was given the charge of the country’s top spy agency in a surprise reshuffle in the army on Sunday, which saw his predecessor, Lt Gen Asim Munir, being posted out after possibly the shortest stint in the director general’s office.

Lt Gen Faiz previously worked as the head of internal security at the ISI. He served in that position till April this year, when he was promoted and posted to the GHQ as adjutant general.

Analysts say the change at the ISI was linked to the growing challenges on both internal and external fronts. They believe that the military and the prime minister intended to benefit from Lt Gen Faiz’s vast intelligence experience in view of the evolving situation.

The Army sees the new spymaster as a counterterrorism star.

Meanwhile, visiting Commander of People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Ground Forces, China, Gen Han Weiguo, also called on the prime minister.

During the meeting, Mr Khan underscored the importance of China and Pakistan supporting each other on issues of their core interest.

He said that close Pakistan-China cooperation was a factor of peace and stability in the region.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2019