Pakistan has named its present Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lieutenant General Mohammad Asim Malik, as the nation’s new National Security Adviser (NSA), The Express Tribune reported. The appointment is in addition to his current position as the chief of the nation’s premier spy agency, which he has held since September 2024.
The timing of Malik’s appointment is significant, coming after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 civilians. India has squarely blamed Pakistan-backed terrorists for the attack, and bilateral relations have sharply deteriorated since then.
Asim Malik: Trusted Military Insider
Before taking charge of the ISI, Lieutenant General Asim Malik served as the Adjutant General at the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters. In this capacity, he oversaw the military’s internal administrative affairs, including legal and disciplinary matters.
One of the most publicized events during his time as Adjutant General was the arrest of ex-prime minister Imran Khan. The arrest prompted widespread demonstrations by Khan’s party workers and supporters across Pakistan, a period of unrest that challenged the military’s internal cohesion and influence.
Career Steeped in Security Operations
Malik’s military career involves several deployments in Pakistan’s most sensitive areas. He has led major army divisions in Balochistan and South Waziristan, both trouble spots for insurgent action and militant violence. His background in dealing with internal security issues and intelligence operations in these areas is thought to have led to his rise through the military ranks.
His simultaneous position as ISI chief and NSA puts him at the center of Pakistan’s security decision-making apparatus at the time of one of the most tumultuous periods in Indo-Pak relations in recent history.
Increasing Cross-Border Tensions
Malik’s selection comes at a time when both India and Pakistan are intensifying retaliatory measures. New Delhi has recently closed its airspace to all Pakistani flights and suspended some popular Pakistani social media accounts among Indian users, such as celebrities like Hania Amir, Mahira Khan, and Ali Zafar.
Violations of the ceasefire on the Line of Control have gone on for seven straight days. Firing with small arms has also been witnessed from the Pakistani side in Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor sector.
After the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India would “identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers.” He also informed India’s highest defence leadership that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to determine India’s response.
At the same time, Pakistan has dismissed any connection to the Pahalgam attack. In a news conference, Islamabad reaffirmed that it had “nothing to do with the attack” and threatened a “strong response if provoked.”
