Pakistan Appoints New ISI Chief

Pakistan has appointed a new head for its most powerful intelligence agency.

The military's press service said September 22 that Rizwan Akhtar would take over as head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on October 1.

Akhtar is currently head of the paramilitary Rangers in southeastern Sindh province.

He is considered to have extensive experience of counterinsurgency from a previous posting in the border region of South Waziristan.

Akhtar's appointment follows the retirement of former ISI head Zaheerul Islam.

Kabul regularly accuses the ISI of meddling in Afghanistan's domestic affairs and supporting the Taliban.

Islamabad denies the accusation.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and pakistantoday.com