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Intelligence Bureau (Pakistan)
Intelligence Bureau[a 1] (IB) is Pakistan's primary intelligence and security agency, primarily focused on non-military intelligence operations. Founded in 1947, it holds the distinction of being the oldest intelligence agency in Pakistan. The agency is headed by the Director General (DG IB), who is typically an officer from the Police Service of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan upgraded the status of the Intelligence Bureau from a semi-autonomous entity to a Division, thereby elevating it to the equivalent rank of a Federal Ministry, with oversight provided by a federal secretary. The Prime Minister of Pakistan is responsible for appointing its leaders and supervising its operations.
Historical Background[edit]
The origins of the Intelligence Bureau can be traced back to the Central Special Branch, which was established on 23 December 1887, by the British government in India to monitor political unrest. This initiative was initiated following Secret Dispatch No. 11, dated 25 March 1887, where R. A. Cross, the Secretary of State for India, approved Lord Dufferin’s proposal to create a system for "collecting secret and political intelligence in India".
Lord Dufferin suggested leveraging the police forces in British-ruled India, as well as political officers in princely states, to gather intelligence on various movements—political, social, and religious. He recommended forming "special agencies" at both central and provincial levels. The Provincial Special Branches were under local government control and were expected to share their intelligence with the Central Special Branch. Dufferin modeled this agency after the Third Section of Imperial Russia, aiming to minimize costs by sharing resources with the existing Thuggee and Dacoity Department. The General Superintendent of that Department oversaw the Central Special Branch, while Provincial Special Branches were linked to either the Inspector General of Police or the chief secretary in their respective provinces.
In 1904, following the recommendations of the Indian Police Commission (1902–1903), led by Andrew Fraser, the Central Criminal Intelligence Department—commonly referred to as the Department of Criminal Intelligence (DCI)—was formed. This restructuring resulted in the dissolution of the Thuggee and Dacoity Department and the integration of the Central Special Branch into the DCI. Additionally, Criminal Investigation Departments (CID) were set up in the provinces. Initially, the Provincial Special Branches were part of the CIDs but were later separated as their roles evolved. According to Section 40(2) of the Government of India Act 1919, "the Intelligence Bureau should keep the Government informed about matters concerning the security of the Indian Empire". In accordance with this directive, the DCI was renamed the Intelligence Bureau in 1920, just before the Act officially came into effect in 1921.
Following Pakistan's creation, the IB was partitioned alongside the armed forces, resulting in the establishment of a Pakistan IB in Karachi. As the oldest intelligence agency, it initially held the sole responsibility for strategic and foreign intelligence, as well as counter-espionage and domestic affairs. However, the IB's performance during the 1947 war with India, particularly in collaboration with Military Intelligence (MI), was deemed inadequate. The agency's focus on internal security rather than foreign intelligence collection led to the establishment of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in 1948, which took over the responsibility for gathering strategic and foreign intelligence across all levels of command.
The Prime Minister appoints the Director-General of the IB, although this appointment requires confirmation from the President. The IB operates as a civilian intelligence agency, with directors historically appointed from civil service, police backgrounds, and occasionally retired military officials.