Latest news with #MuhammadAsimMalik
Hans India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Pakistan conducts military drills to showcase combat readiness, appoints ISI boss as NSA
Islamabad: Pakistan military on Thursday began full-scale military exercises in areas close to the Working Boundary and the Line of Control (LoC), showcasing its military might with modern weaponry on display and asserting the readiness of its forces to respond to any Indian action following the Pahalgam terror attack. The military drills are taking place at a time when Islamabad has also taken a tactical decision to appoint the current Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as the country's National Security Advisor (NSA), a significant move in view of the heightened regional tensions and evolving internal and external dynamics. As per sources in the military establishment, the drills involved live-fire demonstrations. "Officers and troops from various units took part in the drills, displaying high-level operational skills and using advanced battlefield systems," the source mentioned. Pakistan's Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DGISPR) on Wednesday said that Rawalpindi is closely monitoring the situation in all terrains. "We are monitoring the situation very carefully in all terrains and accordingly, our responses and counterterrorism in all domains are ready and, as per the NSC declaration – there will be decisive and assured action if provoked," Lt. General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said during a press conference. "Rest assured that the people of Pakistan, with its full resolve, will defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan at all costs," he added. Lt. General Muhammad Asim Malik's appointment as the country's National Security Advisor (NSA) marks the first occasion that a serving DGISI has been given an additional charge as NSA. Malik is the country's 10 NSA, a position that had been lying vacant since April 2022 when the government led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted. The NSA serves as the principal advisor to the Prime Minister on matters of security, foreign policy, and strategic affairs. The brutal Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 resulted in the death of 26 innocent tourists and left several others critically injured in the Baisaran Valley.
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First Post
01-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
From ISI chief to Pakistan's new NSA: Who is Lt General Muhammad Asim Malik?
Pakistan's spymaster, Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, will also serve as its National Security Adviser (NSA). The post had been vacant since April 2022, when the Imran Khan government collapsed. Malik, a 'highly respected' officer, has been serving as the ISI chief since September last year read more Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik will hold the dual role as Pakistan's NSA and ISI chief. Image Courtesy: X Pakistan has a new National Security Adviser (NSA). Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, the head of the country's spy agency, will serve as the NSA. This is the first time that a serving chief of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been appointed as the NSA simultaneously. 'Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik HI(M), DG (I), shall hold the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect,' Pakistani daily Dawn quoted the notification issued by Cabinet Division on Tuesday (April 29) as saying. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Malik is succeeding Moeed Yusuf, who was the NSA in 2022. His dual role comes amid increased tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Let's take a closer look. Who is Asim Malik? Asim Malik has experience commanding infantry divisions in Balochistan and an infantry brigade in South Waziristan, two areas that have seen violence for nearly two decades. The son of Ghulam Muhammad Malik, a three-star general in the 1990s who was known as 'General GM', the ISI chief earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Balochistan. Malik is a graduate from two top defence colleges — the Royal College of Defence Studies in London and Fort Leavenworth in the United States, where he authored a thesis on mountain warfare. Criticising the traditional military methods, Malik wrote, 'Senior leaders consider themselves well-equipped for planning and conducting operations in any kind of environment. This is unfortunately not always true.' After returning to Pakistan, he took training at the Pakistan Military Academy. Malik went on to receive the 'Sword of Honour' for achieving the best performance there. According to The Hindu report, he trained cadets at the Command and Staff College, Quetta. Malik was the chief instructor at the National Defence University (NDU) in Islamabad. He earned his doctorate in US-Pakistan relations from the varsity. In October 2021, Malik was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed as the Pakistan Army's adjutant general (AG). He was in charge of military administrative affairs, including legal and disciplinary matters, reported Al Jazeera. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Malik's tenure as AG coincided with the crackdown on former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Malik became the head of Pakistan's premier intelligence agency – the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) – in September 2024. The first PhD to hold the post, he succeeded Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum. The ISI chief is the second-most powerful person in Pakistan's military after the Chief of Army Staff. Trusted by Pakistan Army chief ISI chief Malik will now be Pakistan's NSA. The position had been vacant since April 2022, when Imran Khan's PTI government lost a vote of confidence and collapsed, as per a Dawn report. As NSA, Malik will be heading the National Security Division, based at the Prime Minister's Secretariat in Islamabad. Asim Malik is a quiet yet highly respected officer, Retired Lieutenant General Naeem Khalid Lodhi, who served with Malik's father, told Al Jazeera in October 2024. 'Even as the AG, he did substantial work for the welfare of retired soldiers, particularly concerning pensions and other related issues,' Lodhi said. According to a former colleague of Malik, his appointment as the ISI chief last year reflected the confidence the Pakistan Army chief, General Asim Munir, has in him. 'In normal circumstances, with his career trajectory, Malik would have been given command of a corps. But with less than 20 months until his retirement, that's unlikely. His appointment to the ISI underscores the strong confidence Munir has in him,' the former general told Al Jazeera at the time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tensions between India-Pak Asim Malik's appointment as Pakistan's NSA comes amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly of tourists, in Kashmir. After India announced punitive measures against Pakistan in the wake of the tragedy, Pakistan also took tit-for-tat steps. Pakistani troops have continued unprovoked firing on the Indian side along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the past seven nights. Pakistan's ministers have been raising the spectre of military escalation, saying an incursion by India is 'imminent'. It is at this critical juncture that Malik assumes the post of NSA, who is the chief adviser to the Prime Minister on matters of national security, foreign policy, and strategic affairs. With inputs from agencies
Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pakistan's ISI chief Muhammad Asim Malik appointed as National Security Adviser
Pakistan has appointed serving ISI chief Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) amidst raging tension with India. Lt Gen Malik, currently serving as Director General of Pakistan's spy agency – Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), will hold the additional charge of the NSA. He is the country's tenth NSA, but it is for the first time that a serving ISI chief has been given the task to serve concurrently in the two key positions. Malik was appointed as the Director General of the ISI in October 2024. 'Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik HI (M), DG (I), shall hold the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect,' the notification stated. The posting comes amid heightened tensions with India following the recent Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. Lt Gen Malik previously commanded the Infantry Division in Balochistan and the Infantry Brigade in Waziristan. He has also received a Sword of Honour in his course and served as the chief instructor at the National Defence University (NDU), as well as an instructor at the Command and Staff College Quetta. He is a graduate of Fort Leavenworth and the Royal College of Defence Studies. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, having held various leadership roles in the military over the years. The NSA position had remained vacant since April 2022, when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was ousted. Dr Moeed Yusuf was serving as the NSA at that time.
Business Recorder
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
ISI DG Lt-Gen Asim named National Security Advisor
ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented move, the federal government has appointed Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, the current Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as the new National Security Advisor (NSA), amid heightened tensions with India. According to a formal notification issued on Tuesday, Lt Gen Malik becomes the first serving ISI chief in Pakistan's history to simultaneously hold the position of NSA — a role traditionally assigned to retired military officials or civilian strategists. Lt Gen Malik took charge of the ISI in late 2023 and is widely regarded as a key player within the military establishment, with extensive experience in counterterrorism operations, intelligence affairs, and strategic planning. His dual appointment comes at a critical juncture in regional geopolitics and is seen as a reflection of the growing emphasis on synergy between intelligence and national security policymaking. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
No Pakistan nationals staying in Tripura, says CM Manik Saha
Tripura chief minister Dr Manik Saha on Thursday said that the state has no Pakistan nationals and foreigners from other countries staying there, have already left. The central government had instructed all state governments to deport Pakistan nationals after identifying them in the aftermath of the terror attack at Pahalgam on April 22. 'Currently there are no Pakistani residents here. The foreigners from other countries have moved already', said CM while speaking to media persons in Agartala. Also Read: Who is Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik? ISI chief named Pakistan's NSA amid tensions with India over Pahalgam attack The central government intensified efforts to identify Pakistani citizens in the state, according to the decision taken in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while police and general administration were asked to take action to deport these persons after identifying them, CM Saha said. A total 1,045 foreign nationals including over 700 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested for infiltrating in Tripura since January last year till February this year. The data also showed that 483 foreign nationals were arrested since August 5 last year during falling of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in Bangladesh till this February.
