Islamabad/ New Delhi, May 2 – Pakistan has appointed Lieutenant General Mohammad Asim Malik, the current head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as the country’s new National Security Adviser (NSA), amid rising tensions with neighboring India following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
The appointment, reported by The Express Tribune, adds to Malik’s existing portfolio as ISI chief, a role he has held since September 2024. It comes in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 civilians were killed, prompting a sharp escalation in rhetoric and military activity along the Line of Control (LoC).
The Pakistani military has not issued a formal statement on the dual appointment. Malik, a seasoned army officer, previously served as the Adjutant General at Pakistan Army headquarters, overseeing military, legal and administrative affairs. His tenure coincided with the high-profile arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, which triggered widespread protests.
He has also commanded army divisions in Balochistan and South Waziristan, regions long plagued by insurgent violence and instability. The appointment comes as the two nuclear-armed neighbors exchange tit-for-tat actions. India has closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft and ordered the suspension of social media accounts belonging to Pakistani celebrities, including actors Hania Amir and Mahira Khan, and singer Ali Zafar.
Ceasefire violations have been reported daily for over a week, with unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side recorded in Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor sector on Wednesday, according to Indian defense sources.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed a firm response to the Pahalgam attack, stating that the armed forces have been granted “complete operational freedom” to determine the timing, targets and nature of their retaliation.
Pakistan, in a recent press briefing, denied involvement in the attack and warned that it would respond strongly if “provoked.” Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared repeatedly over the disputed Kashmir region, and Wednesday’s developments signal a potential hardening of positions on both sides.
