Lt Gen Asim Malik reportedly gets another one-year extension as DG ISI and NSA

Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik is set to continue serving as Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)

ISLAMABAD:  Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik is set to continue serving as Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and National Security Adviser (NSA), with highly placed security sources claiming that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved another one-year extension for the senior military officer.

Malik assumed charge as DG ISI on September 30, 2024, succeeding Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum. He was subsequently given the additional responsibility of National Security Adviser in April 2025, becoming the first serving ISI chief to simultaneously hold the NSA position. His continuation as DG ISI was officially confirmed in October 2025, although the notification at the time did not specify a fixed duration.

According to the sources cited by Minute Mirror, the latest extension has been approved by the prime minister following consultations within the military leadership. The sources described the decision as reflecting confidence in Malik’s role in intelligence coordination, counter-terrorism and national security policy.

The reported decision comes amid a complex regional security environment, with Pakistan continuing to face militant threats and security challenges along its western and eastern fronts. Supporters of the continuation argue that retaining experienced leadership at a sensitive intelligence position can provide institutional continuity during such circumstances.

Malik’s professional background combines field command, operational experience and academic training. He joined the Pakistan Army through the 80th Pakistan Military Academy Long Course and received the Sword of Honour. He was commissioned into the 12 Baloch Regiment in 1989.

During his career, he commanded an infantry brigade in Waziristan and later the 41st Infantry Division in Balochistan. He also served in the Military Operations Directorate at General Headquarters and held instructional positions at the Command and Staff College Quetta and the National Defence University.

According to official and state-media profiles issued at the time of his appointment, Malik is a graduate of Fort Leavenworth in the United States and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. He also holds a PhD in International Relations from the National Defence University, with research focused on US-Pakistan relations.

Before becoming DG ISI, Malik served as Adjutant General at GHQ. His appointment as intelligence chief was announced by the military in September 2024, with the government formally approving his appointment.

His simultaneous responsibilities as DG ISI and NSA have placed him at the intersection of intelligence assessment and national security policymaking. The arrangement has attracted considerable attention because of the unusual combination of the two roles.

If confirmed through a formal notification, the reported extension would allow Malik to continue in both positions for another year. For now, the duration and terms of the reported extension remain subject to official confirmation.

The continuation would also maintain the existing leadership structure at a time when Pakistan’s security institutions are focused on intelligence coordination, counter-terrorism operations and regional developments.