The federal government on Friday named Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik as Pakistan new National Security Adviser (NSA) while he is holding the office of Director General of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). It has happened for the first time in the country’s history that a sitting ISI chief has been tasked with the added charge of NSA.
The official notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday confirmed that Lt Gen Malik will hold both positions simultaneously. He has been serving as the ISI chief since September 2024.
The appointment is being carried out as tensions are on the rise with India particularly since the attack in Pahalgam has increased security concerns in the region. The NSA slot had been vacant for over two years as the previous adviser Moeed Yusuf had resigned in April 2022 after the ouster of the PTI government following a vote of no confidence against Imran Khan.
The National adviser holds the rank of a federal minister and is the Prime Minister top adviser on national security, foreign policy and strategic matters. The NSA also leads the National Security Division which operates from the Prime Minister Secretariat in Islamabad.
Also read this: Pahalgam Attack Prompts Concerns Over Security and Suspect Identification
