No photos please. New ISI chief wants to be a mystery man, unlike ‘media hungry’ Bajwa

New Delhi: “No photos please,” says Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum, Pakistan’s new Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI. Unlike his predecessors, Anjum surprisingly does not crave media coverage, which has impressed many Pakistanis, who breathed a sigh of relief after finally being rid of “media hungry Bajwa” and being “too fed up” with the “politicized General Faiz Hameed”.

Following Anjum’s order not to share his picture or video footage with the media, the video recordings of Pakistan’s National Security Committee meeting Monday captured everyone except the top spymaster of the country.  Anjum was chosen as the new ISI chief in October this year, replacing Lt Gen Faiz Hameed.

Applauding his decision to stay away from the media, a Pakistani Twitter user wrote, “A true soldier who wants no publicity. His work will speak volumes and we will see that. Insha Allah.”

One contrasted him with the current Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Good to have a professional in charge. Time to replace media hungry Bajwa with a professional soldier as well.

— Rajput A Bhatti 🇵🇰 (@PakistanUnity47) December 28, 2021

Another questioned if he is the “real Spymaster or too fed up of Faiz’s exposure?”

The real Spy Master or too fed up of Faiz’s exposure?
Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeen Anjum has asked all authorities concerned not to release to the media his picture or video footage,made during any official meeting. https://t.co/bSDG5opKXA

— Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) December 28, 2021

He means business, seriously not media galore like a films star perhaps.

— Khan Smily (@laprincessakhan) December 28, 2021

Also read: Pakistani TV channels now must show new map with Kashmir. Some call it a circus

Intelligence officials shun publicity

Several Pakistanis praised Anjum’s wish for no coverage.

Calling Anjum decision a “great depoliticization”, a user wrote, “New DG ISI is a highly professional soldier unlike the highly politicized General Faiz Hameed @OfficialDGISPR. New dg ispr too is highly professional unlike the previous Asif ghafoor who sounded like a pti spokesperson more than armed forces spokesman (sic)”.

Some observed that “intelligence professionals always shun publicity”.

True soldiers always act like this. And present DG ISI is a True Soldier

— SOHAIL SHEIKH (@ShkSohailAzam) December 28, 2021

Intelligence professionals always shun publicity. https://t.co/mAEUeb7ZSx

— Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) December 28, 2021

However, one user offered an interesting take, saying, “Perhaps he (Anjum) has the idea about his future memes”. Another said he can give a competition to Prime Minister Imran Khan with his looks.

Competition to Imran Khan in looks.

— Chetan Vyas (@ChetanV12488587) December 28, 2021

Stressing on how “Intelligence agencies the world over do not call attention to themselves”, a user wrote, “Professionalism demands they are neither seen nor heard, unless they absolutely have to”. Others called it a ‘positive step’ that should be followed by all in the armed forces.