ISI Chief Appointed as National Security Adviser

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been appointed as the National Security Adviser (NSA). The government announced Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik as the new NSA through a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, stating that Lt Gen Malik will continue to serve as the Director General (DG) of ISI while also taking on the additional responsibility of NSA.

Lt Gen Malik has been serving as the DG ISI since September 2024. His new appointment as NSA comes at a critical time, following heightened tensions with India after the recent Pahalgam attack. This dual role is unprecedented, as no serving ISI chief has previously held the NSA position.

The NSA post had been vacant since April 2022, after the PTI government was removed and former Prime Minister Imran Khan lost a vote of confidence. Moeed Yusuf was the last person to serve as NSA before the position became vacant.

The National Security Adviser holds the status of a federal minister and acts as the main adviser to the Prime Minister on national security, foreign policy, and strategic matters. The NSA also leads the National Security Division, which operates from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat in Islamabad.