--- category: BCCI Scandal summary: Asaf Ali is a Pakistani multimillionaire and arms dealer, closely associated with Agha Hasan Abedi and the BCCI. tags: - Person - BCCI - CIA --- Asaf Ali is a Pakistani multimillionaire and arms dealer, closely associated with [Agha Hasan Abedi](/people/agha-hasan-abedi/) and the [BCCI](/organizations/bank-of-credit-and-commerce-international/). He is described as a key figure in the Middle Eastern arms business, often brokering deals that involved governments and intelligence agencies.[^1] Ali was known for his ability to make things happen in the arms trade, particularly when principals in a transaction preferred not to be seen doing business together. He was deeply involved in BCCI's operations, which facilitated arms sales, drug trafficking, and money laundering on a global scale.[^2] ### Role in Arms Deals Ali was the agent for Dassault, the French Mirage factory, and was instrumental in the sale of Mirage jets to [Pakistan](/places/pakistan/), [Abu Dhabi](/places/abu-dhabi/), and [Libya](/places/libya/).[^3] He also brokered the sale of forty-nine Mirage 2000s to [India](/places/india/) and arranged for a similar number of new and used Mirages for Pakistan.[^4] His involvement extended to other significant arms transactions, including the sale of OE-40 Mark 2 main battle tanks from Italian manufacturer Oto Melarato to Abu Dhabi, S-23 150mm artillery guns from [North Korea](/places/north-korea/) for Dubai, and ASTROS II battlefield multiple-rocket launchers from [Brazil](/places/brazil/) to both [Iran](/places/iran/) and [Iraq](/places/iraq/).[^5] He was also involved in the sale of Argentine TAM battle tanks to Iran in 1989, and supplied Iraq with French-made Roland antiaircraft missile systems and G6 mobile artillery units from [South Africa](/places/south-africa/).[^6] Ali brokered Chinese ballistic-missile sales to Pakistan, Iraq, and [Saudi Arabia](/places/saudi-arabia/), as well as Scud missiles from North Korea.[^7] ### Connections and Influence Ali's connections were extensive, reaching high-level officials and intelligence agencies. He was a good friend of "Happy" Minwallah, a close adviser to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and was very close with the Pakistani air marshal.[^8] His ability to operate with apparent immunity was due to his deep ties within the Pakistani government and military.[^9] He was also involved in meetings with [William J. Casey](/people/william-j-casey/), the former [Central Intelligence Agency](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) Director, and accompanied General Zia on a trip to Washington where they met with Casey.[^10] [^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 8. [^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 309. [^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 306. [^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 308. [^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 296. [^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 296. [^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 296. [^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 296. [^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 355. [^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 347.