Islamabad, May 1, 2025: In a significant development, Pakistan has appointed Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, the current Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as the country’s new National Security Advisor (NSA). The move, announced via a formal notification by the Cabinet Division, marks the first time a serving ISI chief will concurrently hold the NSA position, consolidating significant authority over Pakistan’s security and intelligence policies.
The appointment comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives, mostly tourists. India has accused Pakistan-based groups, specifically linking the attack to The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), though TRF later retracted its initial claim of responsibility, reportedly under pressure from Pakistan’s defense establishment.
Lt Gen Malik, who assumed the role of ISI chief in September 2024, brings extensive military experience to his new post. A graduate of Fort Leavenworth in the United States and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, Malik has commanded divisions in conflict-prone regions like Balochistan and South Waziristan. His academic credentials include a PhD in US-Pakistan relations from the National Defence University, making him the first PhD holder to lead the ISI.
The decision to entrust Malik with dual roles has sparked mixed reactions. Some political analysts view it as a pragmatic move to streamline Pakistan’s security strategy amid fears of Indian retaliation, while others express concerns about the militarization of a traditionally civilian role. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar cited “credible intelligence” suggesting India might launch military action within 24-36 hours, a claim that has heightened Islamabad’s state of alert.
India, in response to the Pahalgam attack, has taken several measures, including banning Pakistani airlines from its airspace, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and closing the Attari-Wagah border crossing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a series of high-level security meetings, vowed to “pursue” the perpetrators and their backers, granting the Indian military “complete operational freedom” to respond.
Ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) have continued for seven consecutive days, with unprovoked small-arms fire reported from Pakistan’s side in Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor, Kupwara, and Uri sectors. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has denied involvement in the attack, calling for an unbiased investigation and urging the United States to discourage India’s “provocative statements.”
Malik’s new role as NSA will focus on managing India-Pakistan relations, counterterrorism efforts, and border security, particularly with Afghanistan. His appointment underscores the trust placed in him by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, with whom he shares a longstanding professional connection.
As tensions simmer, the United Nations has urged both nations to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with fears of a broader conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
