Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik Confirmed to Continue as Pakistan's ISI Chief

Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik will remain at the helm of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to security sources cited in recent media reports.

Security officials confirmed to The Express Tribune that "Lt Gen Asim Malik is continuing his services in his present appointment" as the Director General of Pakistan's premier intelligence agency.

While Lt Gen Malik was previously expected to retire later this year, no specific retirement date has been disclosed. The report does not clarify whether his military service will be officially extended by the government or if he would maintain his role after formal retirement.

Malik assumed leadership of the ISI in September 2024, succeeding Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum. In April this year, he was additionally appointed as National Security Adviser (NSA), further expanding his influence in Pakistan's security apparatus.

Military experts consider Lt Gen Malik among the Pakistan Army's most proficient officers, particularly recognized for his operational command capabilities. Prior to his ISI appointment, he served as adjutant general at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi for three years, where he supervised military administrative affairs including legal and disciplinary matters.

His distinguished military career includes commanding an infantry division in Balochistan and an infantry brigade in South Waziristan. At the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, he received the prestigious Sword of Honour, awarded to the most outstanding cadet of a graduating class.

Lt Gen Malik's educational credentials include graduation from Fort Leavenworth in the United States and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. His extensive military experience encompasses key positions in the Military Operations Directorate, as well as instructional roles at the National Defence University and the Command and Staff College in Quetta.

He is the son of Lieutenant General (retired) Ghulam Muhammad Malik, who held significant military positions during the 1990s.