Pakistan has selected Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik, the incumbent chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as its new National Security Adviser (NSA) amid escalating tensions with India.
As NSA, Lt Gen Malik will carry out the two roles of heading ISI and managing national security issues. This is a historic precedent since there has never been a serving ISI chief who served in both capacities at the same time.
Lt Gen Malik became the Director General of ISI in October 2024. The official notification announced his fresh posting, saying: "Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik HI (M), DG (I), shall have the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect."
The appointment is made at a critical juncture with India, especially after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that left 26 dead.
Malik has a very long military history, having commanded the Infantry Division in Balochistan and the Infantry Brigade in Waziristan earlier. He is a Sword of Honour awardee from his training course and has also worked as the chief instructor at the National Defence University (NDU) and an instructor at the Command and Staff College in Quetta.
A Fort Leavenworth and Royal College of Defence Studies graduate, Lt Gen Malik is well-experienced in his new position, having held numerous senior military offices during his service.
The NSA position was left vacant since April 2022, when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was ousted. Dr. Moeed Yusuf had been serving in that role before it was left vacant.
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