- By Ajeet Kumar
- Thu, 01 May 2025 09:57 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
In line with India's tactic to revamp the National Security Advisory Board, Pakistan has made similar steps to overhaul its NSA team. Pakistan has appointed spy chief Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) amidst raging tension with India. Malik was appointed as the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in October 2024.
Who is Muhammad Asim Malik?
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday, General Malik was formally given the task of the NSA. “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.
He is the country's tenth NSA, but it is for the first time that a serving ISI chief was given the task of serving concurrently in the two key positions. The posting comes amid heightened tensions with India following the recent Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. 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.
The NSA holds the status of a federal minister and serves as the principal adviser to the Prime Minister on matters of national security, foreign policy, and strategic affairs in Pakistan. The adviser also heads the National Security Division, based at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat in Islamabad, reported Dawn.
READ: India Closes Airspace For Pakistani Flights, Issues NOTAM Amid Pahalgam Terror Attack Fallout
India revamps National Security Advisory Board
Earlier on Wednesday, the Indian government revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) — a move that came amid speculations about India's possible retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in view of its cross-border linkages. It is learnt that former R&AW chief Alok Joshi has been appointed as NSAB chairman. The NSAB is an advisory body that provides inputs to the National Security Council Secretariat.
The new members appointed to the NSAB are former Western Air Commander Air Marshal PM Sinha, former Southern Army Commander Lt Gen A K Singh and Rear Admiral (retd) Monty Khanna, people familiar with the matter said. Former diplomat B. Venkatesh Varma and retired IPS Rajiv Ranjan Verma have also been appointed to the NSAB as its members, they said.
(With inputs from agency)