Riaz was well-regarded amongst the military establishment , and described as " religious minded , scrupulously honest , thoroughly professional and a committed soldier ... a man of unimpeachable honesty and integrity . " Although he presided over the ISI for a short term , his tenure , which occurred during Zia 's regime coincided with a tumultuous period in Pakistan – U.S. relations : Bhutto 's execution , the Carter administration 's sanctions against Pakistan 's nuclear program , the U.S. embassy burning in Islamabad , the Soviet buildup in Afghanistan , and the CIA 's expanding cooperation with ISI
U.S. embassy burning
1979 U.S. embassy burning in Islamabad
Muhammad Riaz Khan