Lt Gen Asim Munir has been appointed as the new DG of the country’s foremost intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, ISI, effective September 30. He will replace the incumbent DG, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, on a key assignment.
Traditionally, the prime minister names the ISI chief after consulting with the chief of army staff before finalizing his pick. Malik commands vast military experience. He currently works as the Adjutant General at GHQ.
He has led the Infantry Division in Balochistan and the Infantry Brigade in Waziristan. For service excellence, he was awarded the Sword of Honor during training. He also served as Chief Instructor at the National Defence University (NDU) and as an instructor at Command and Staff College in Quetta. He is a graduate of both Fort Leavenworth and the Royal College of Defence Studies.
The elevation of Malik has come at a time of transition since the then ISI chief, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, who had been heading the premier spy agency since 2021 during former prime minister Imran Khan, was not given any extension.
This origin of Malik is likely to shape the current political scenario in Pakistan, especially on issues concerning TTP and intra-Balochistan regional politics. The development was well-timed with the growing importance of ISI in both national and international counter-operations.
