 Abbasi remained a part of the military establishment as long as he was in service with no links to any political or religious groups as per the tradition of the army.Abbasi worked as an intelligence and military officer in liaison with Afghan Mujahideen resisting the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1980–1986).In 1987–1988, Brigadier Abbasi also served as the military attaché at the Pakistani embassy in New Delhi, India.