In a major development, the Government of Pakistan has appointed Lt. Gen. Asim Malik, the current chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as the country’s new National Security Advisor (NSA).
The decision was formally announced today following approval by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Lt. Gen. Malik will replace the outgoing NSA, Moeed Yusuf, and is expected to bring his extensive intelligence and security experience to the strategic role.
Lt. Gen. Malik has served as the head of ISI since 2023 and has been credited with strengthening Pakistan’s intelligence network and overseeing key counterterrorism operations. His new appointment as NSA marks the first time an ISI chief will directly assume the top civilian advisory role on national security matters.
Analysts believe the appointment reflects the government’s priority to align civil-military coordination on security, regional diplomacy, and counterterrorism. Malik’s expertise is also expected to play a critical role in shaping Pakistan’s foreign policy, particularly with Afghanistan, India, and China.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated that Lt. Gen. Malik will formally assume his new duties next week. A new ISI chief is expected to be announced soon.
