Islamabad: The Government has appointed Lieutenant General Muhammad As As As As Malik, the general director of the country’s main intelligence agency, as the new National Security Advisor (NSA).
The Chief of Intelligence between Services (ISI) becomes the country’s tenth.
A notification issued by the Cabinet division on Tuesday said that General Malik would retain his role as DG ISI, a position he has held since September 2024.
“Lieutenant General Muhammad As As As As Malik Hi (M), DG (I), will have the additional position of the National Security Advisor, with immediate effect,” said the notification.
His appointment marks the first time that an ISI boss simultaneously serves as the NSA.
The publication occurs in the middle of high tensions with India after Pahalgam’s recent attack.
The NSA position had remained vacant since April 2022, when the PTI government was expelled after former Prime Minister Imran Khan lost a vote of trust. At that time, Moeed Yusuf was serving as the NSA.
The NSA has the state of a federal minister and serves as the main advisor of the Prime Minister on National Security, Foreign Policy and Strategic Affairs.
The advisor also directs the National Security Division, based in the Secretariat of the Prime Minister in Islamabad.
Posted in Dawn, May 1, 2025
