ISI Chief Lt Gen Mohammad Asim Malik Appointed Pakistan's National Security Adviser Amid Escalating India Tensions

 In a significant development amid mounting regional tensions, Pakistan has appointed Lieutenant General Mohammad Asim Malik, the current Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as the country’s National Security Adviser (NSA) with additional charge. The appointment comes as Islamabad faces heightened security concerns following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

According to media reports, a formal notification confirming Lt Gen Malik’s expanded role has been issued. He assumed leadership of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency in September 2024 and is now expected to play a dual role in shaping both internal and external security strategy at a critical juncture for the country.

The decision to entrust Malik with the NSA portfolio is widely seen as an attempt to consolidate Pakistan’s security and intelligence apparatus, especially as tensions with India escalate in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead—including foreign tourists—and several others injured. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the assault.

Islamabad, reportedly anticipating a potential military response from New Delhi, has responded with heightened alertness. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday publicly warned of an imminent Indian strike within 24 to 36 hours, citing “credible intelligence.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Tarar asserted that any act of aggression would be met with a “decisive response,” holding India responsible for any further deterioration in regional stability.

Sources in Islamabad indicate that Lt Gen Malik’s appointment is aimed at enhancing coordination on counterterrorism operations and managing Pakistan’s response to cross-border militancy, particularly in volatile regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The expanded mandate reflects growing concern over both internal security threats and shifting dynamics in neighboring Afghanistan.

Pahalgam Attack Sparks Diplomatic Fallout

The April 22 attack in Pahalgam has triggered one of the most severe diplomatic breakdowns between India and Pakistan in recent years. Armed militants targeted a group of unarmed tourists—among them women and elderly individuals—in broad daylight, leading to widespread condemnation.

In response, India has announced a series of punitive measures, including the suspension of provisions under the Indus Waters Treaty, the downgrading of diplomatic staff at Islamabad’s High Commission, closure of Indian airspace to Pakistani carriers, and the expulsion of Pakistani military attachés.

Pakistan has retaliated by suspending the bilateral Shimla Agreement and initiating reciprocal diplomatic reductions, further straining already fraught ties.

As both countries brace for possible escalation, Lt Gen Malik’s dual role as ISI chief and NSA places him at the center of Pakistan’s strategic response in a moment of deepening geopolitical uncertainty.