Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is set to receive a new Director General as Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik has been appointed to the post. Gen Malik, currently serving as Adjutant General at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, will officially assume his role on 30th September, according to an official statement released today.Lt Gen Malik will succeed Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, who is set to retire on 30th September after a three-year tenure as ISI chief. Gen Anjum, appointed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has overseen the agency through a critical period in Pakistan’s political landscape. However, in a significant shift, Khan reportedly distanced himself from Gen Anjum during his later years in office, accusing him of involvement in his ousting from power.The transition comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over civil-military relations in Pakistan, with observers closely monitoring how the change in ISI leadership may influence the delicate balance between the country’s government and military institutions.According to defence analysts, the process of appointing the ISI Director General is not enshrined in Pakistan’s Constitution or Army Act. Traditionally, the Chief of Army Staff recommends three candidates to the Prime Minister, who then makes the final decision. This informal procedure has been maintained for previous appointments, ensuring collaboration between the civilian and military leadership in selecting the head of the country’s most powerful intelligence agency.As Gen Malik prepares to take the reins at the ISI, political analysts are keen to see how this appointment will affect both internal and external dynamics, particularly given the agency’s influential role in shaping national security and foreign policy.
