Report By CBN247 :
Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik Appointed as Pakistan’s First Serving ISI Chief to Simultaneously Hold National Security Advisor Role
In a significant and unprecedented development, the federal government of Pakistan has appointed Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, the serving Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as the new National Security Advisor (NSA). The decision, officially notified on Tuesday, marks the first time in Pakistan’s history that a serving ISI chief has been entrusted with the dual responsibility of leading the country’s top intelligence agency while also overseeing its national security strategy.
Lt Gen Malik, who assumed command of the ISI in late 2023, is a seasoned military officer with a distinguished career spanning several decades. He is recognized for his in-depth expertise in counterterrorism, intelligence operations, and strategic military planning. His appointment as NSA comes amid escalating tensions with neighboring India, as well as an increasingly complex regional security landscape shaped by evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Traditionally, the post of National Security Advisor has been held by either retired military officials or civilian experts. The elevation of a serving intelligence chief to this role signals a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s national security architecture, underscoring the state’s intent to strengthen coordination between operational intelligence and strategic policy formulation.
Analysts suggest that the move reflects the government’s desire to centralize decision-making in security affairs and streamline inter-agency collaboration at a time when Pakistan faces multifaceted internal and external security challenges.
