Pakistan spy master who turned against the US to back Osama bin Laden dies of a brain haemorrhage

Hamid Gul, who led Pakistan’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency as it funneled U.S. and Saudi cash and weapons to Afghan jihadis fighting against the Soviets and later publicly supported Islamic militants, died late Saturday of a brain haemorrhage. He was 78.

Gul’s tenure at the ISI and his outspoken backing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and other extremists showed the murky loyalties at play years later when the U.S. and Pakistan formed an unlikely alliance following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

 But others viewed Gul as an increasingly out-of-touch braggart later in life, as he appeared on countless Pakistani television programs warning of dark conspiracies and demanding his country militarily confront its nuclear-armed neighbour India.

“The unruly mujahedeen commanders obeyed and respected him like no one else,” Gul’s online autobiography reads. “Later on with the advent of the Taliban’s rise he was equally admired and respected.”

 Gul died late Saturday night at the hill resort of Murree near the capital, Islamabad, his daughter, Uzma Gul, said. She said Gul suffered a brain haemorrhage.

 Born November 20, 1936, near Sargodha in eastern Pakistan, Gul served in the army and fought in two wars against India. He always would view India with suspicion for the rest of his life, constantly warning it and others wanted to seize Pakistan’s own nuclear arsenal. Many believe he helped shape Pakistan’s policy of funding Islamic militant groups to attack India’s interests in the disputed Kashmir region.