Pakistan's ISI chief gets new role as tensions escalate with India after Pahalgam attack

Lt Gen Mohammad Asim Malik has been given the additional charge of Pakistan's NSA. (File photo)

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General Mohammad Asim Malik has been appointed as the country's National Security Advisor, according to a report by The Express Tribune.

The appointment is an additional charge given to him apart from the ISI chief position he has held since September 2024.

His appointment to the new role comes at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan are escalating in the aftermath of a ghastly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.

Before serving as the Director General of ISI, Malik had served as the Adjutant General at Pakistan army's general headquarters, overseeing military administrative affairs, including legal and disciplinary matters.

Among the key events during his tenure as Adjutant General was former prime minister Imran Khan's arrest and subsequent protests by his supporters and party workers, as per the Express Tribune.

During his career, he has also commanded divisions in Balochistan and South Waziristan, both areas that have posed immense security challenges.

Since the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, Pakistan has been fearing Indian retaliation in the wake of the carnage, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming that India would attack Pakistan in the next 24 to 36 hours, citing "credible intelligence".

In a statement posted on X, Tarar warned that any act of aggression would be met with a decisive response and hold India accountable for any serious consequences in the region.

Earlier, the country's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told news agency Reuters that a military incursion by India was imminent. Pakistan was on high alert but would only use its nuclear weapons if "there is a direct threat to our existence", Asif said.

Following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers. PM Modi told the top defence brass that the armed forces have "complete operational freedom" to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the Pahalgam attack.

Among the most recent measures taken by New Delhi is also shutting its airspace for all Pakistani airplanes and suspension of social media channels of popular Pakistan personalities including Hania Amir, Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar.

Meanwhile, ceasefire violations continued along the Line Of Control for the seventh consecutive day on Friday, while unprovoked small arms firing was reported from the Pakistani side at the International border in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector on Thursday.