Pakistan Appoints Lt General Muhammad Asim Malik as National Security Adviser Amid Rising Tensions with India

Islamabad: In a significant move, the Pakistan government has appointed Lt General Muhammad Asim Malik as the new National Security Adviser (NSA), while also continuing his role as the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). This dual appointment comes in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead, raising concerns about a potential military response from India.

A notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday confirmed the appointment, stating, “Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik HI (M), DG (I), shall hold the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect.” The notification also acknowledged that Malik would oversee national security matters alongside his ongoing leadership of the ISI.

Malik’s elevation to NSA comes shortly after his September 2024 appointment as the head of ISI, with some reports citing his central role in shaping Pakistan’s national security strategy. Experts argue that his combined leadership in both the ISI and NSA roles could enhance coordination between military intelligence and national security policymaking.

As Pakistan’s 10th NSA, Malik’s appointment marks the first time in the country’s history that a serving ISI chief has concurrently held the dual roles of NSA and ISI chief. The position of NSA had been vacant since April 2022, following the ouster of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government. Dr. Moeed Yusuf served as the NSA during the PTI government’s tenure.