ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday notified Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as the new head of the ISI spy agency, ending weeks of wrangling between the government and the army over the appointment of a general to the key position.
Gen Anjum’s appointment was first announced by the army’s media wing on October 6, but the PM House did not release an official notification about the posting until today, Tuesday.
The delay in the announcement from the government side led to widespread speculation about an alleged rift between PM Khan and army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa over the appointment.
Announcing that Gen Anjum would assume his duties as ISI chief from November 20, the prime minister’s office said:
“The incumbent Director General ISI [Lt gen Faiz Hameed] shall continue to hold charge as the Director General Inter Services Intelligence till 19th November, 2021.”
In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister Office said the army chief had called on Khan on Tuesday as “part of the ongoing consultation process between the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff about the timing of change of command in ISI and selection of the new DG ISI.”
“During this process a list of officers was received from ministry of Defense. Prime Minister interviewed all the nominees. A final round of consultation was held between the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff today,” the PMO said, adding that Gen Anjum was chosen as DG ISI after the “detailed consultative process.”

The army is arguably the most influential institution in Pakistan, with the military having ruled the country for about half of its 74-year history since independence from Britain and enjoying extensive powers even under civilian administrations. By turn, the head of the ISI occupies one of the most important posts in Pakistan. He is customarily appointed by the prime minister on the advice of the army chief.
While announcing the new DG ISI earlier in October, the army also transferred Gen Hameed, as Corps Commander Peshawar.
The ISI is widely believed to have a hidden role in making many of the nuclear-armed nation’s policies, including on Afghanistan and India. The threat to Pakistan from nuclear-armed neighboring India has been a main preoccupation of the ISI through the decades.