ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government has appointed the chief of its premium intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Asim Malik, as the National Security Adviser, an official notification said this week amid fears of a military conflict breaking out between Pakistan and India.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors surged after India blamed Pakistan for being involved in the Apr. 22 militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. India suspended a decades-old water-sharing treaty with Pakistan, suspended visas for its nationals and took a raft of other measures after blaming Islamabad for “cross-border terrorism.” Pakistan denied involvement, took tit-for-tat measures and warned India of a “strong” response if it carried out a military strike.
Malik was picked to head the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI), the country’s premium intelligence agency, in September last year. The ISI is believed to have a hidden role in making many of the nuclear-armed nation’s policies, including those related to Afghanistan and India. The threat to Pakistan from neighboring India has been a main preoccupation of the ISI through the decades.
“Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asim Malik DG (I), shall hold the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect,” a notification by the Cabinet Division issued on Apr. 29, read.
The army is arguably the most influential institution in Pakistan, with the military having ruled the country for about half of its 77-year history since independence from Britain and enjoying extensive powers even under civilian administrations.
Fears of a military confrontation between India and Pakistan were renewed on Wednesday after the latter’s state television reported that Pakistan’s army had destroyed several Indian posts after they resorted to “unprovoked” firing in the Kayani and Mandal sectors of the Line of Control (LoC).
The LoC runs 742km (460 miles) dividing the parts of Kashmir governed by India and Pakistan, and acts as part of the de facto border between the two countries. India and Pakistan both claim the disputed Himalayan Kashmir territory in full but administer only parts of it.
Earlier on Wednesday, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that a “timely” response by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had “forced” four Indian Rafale jets to retreat after payrolling near the two nations’ de facto border.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday to de-escalate Islamabad’s tensions with New Delhi and avoid a military confrontation with India. Several countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkiye and the UK have done the same recently.
Pakistan appoints intelligence chief as National Security Adviser amid tensions with India
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Pakistan appoints intelligence chief as National Security Adviser amid tensions with India
- Lt. Gen. Asim Malik was picked to head Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency in September last year
- ISI is believed to have a hidden role in making many of country’s policies, especially those related to India
Saudi defense minister meets Pakistan army chief, discusses security issues
- Khalid bin Salman says both countries reaffirmed strategic defense partnership
- The meeting follows last year’s joint defense pact deepening military relations
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman said on Thursday he had met Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir to reaffirm the strategic defense partnership and discuss cooperation to promote global peace and security.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of deepening defense and security ties between the two countries. Last September, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral defense accord that elevated long-standing military cooperation into a formal security commitment, with both sides pledging to treat aggression against one as a threat to the other.
“Met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to reaffirm our strong relations and strategic defense partnership,” the Saudi minister said in a social media post. “We discussed our joint efforts to promote global peace and security in a manner that serves our shared interests.”
https://x.com/kbsalsaud/status/2021970225579847828?s=20
The talks take place at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the conflict in Gaza far from resolution amid ongoing ceasefire violations by Israel.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long maintained close economic, diplomatic and security ties, and coordination between the two sides has intensified since the signing of the defense pact.
The two countries are also part of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace and have pressed for progress toward an independent Palestinian state and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza along with other Muslim nations.
The Middle East has also been on edge as the United States pursues nuclear negotiations with Iran, prompting many regional states to call for diplomacy rather than new military flare-ups.
So far, Pakistan’s military has not issued a detailed statement about Thursday’s meeting.
Earlier this month, Pakistani officials attended the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, a major international exhibition bringing together governments, armed forces and global defense manufacturers.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also discussed expanding economic cooperation, including efforts to combine Pakistan’s production capacity with Saudi capital and access to regional markets, according to Pakistan’s commerce ministry.
