Pakistan appoints new ISI chief amid rising security challenges

Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asim Malik has been appointed as the new Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), effective September 30. He succeeds Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum during a time of rising security threats and political tensions related to former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Malik, a three-star general, has a distinguished military background, including training in the U.S. and U.K. He is the first ISI chief to hold a doctorate. His appointment reflects a cooperative relationship between the civilian government and the military, contrasting with the contentious appointment process seen previously. The military has intensified its crackdown on Khan and his allies, including former ISI chief Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, who faces court-martial. Malik's alignment with the current Army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, positions him as a stabilizing figure amid ongoing political unrest.