Asim Malik
{{Short description|31st Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (Pakistan)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Lieutenant General
| honorific-suffix = HI(M)
| name = Asim Malik
| native_name = عاصم ملک
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| order1 =
| office1 = 31st Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence
| term_start1 = 30 September 2024
| term_end1 =
| president1 = Asif Ali Zardari
| primeminister1 = Shehbaz Sharif
| predecessor1 = Lt. General Nadeem Anjum
| office2 = Adjutant General
GHQ (Pakistan)
| term_start2 = 6 October 2021
| term_end2 = 29 September 2024
| branch = {{army|PAK}}
| alma_mater = University of Balochistan
Fort Leavenworth
Royal College of Defence Studies
National Defence University
Pakistan Military Academy
| unit = 12 Baloch Regiment
| rank = 13px 30px Lieutenant General
| battles = *War on terror
- War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)
- Insurgency in Balochistan
- War in North-West Pakistan
- Operation Rah-e-Nijat
- Operation Zarb-e-Azb
- Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad
- Operation Azm-e-Istehkam
- Durand line skirmishes
| birth_place = Shahpur Tehsil, Sargodha District, Punjab, Pakistan
| parents = Lt. Gen Ghulam Muhammad Malik (father)
| awards = 20px {{small|Hilal-i-Imtiaz}}
20px Sword of Honour (Pakistan)
| commands = Adjutant general
GHQ
41 Infantry Division
National Defence University (Chief instructor)
VCGS-A
| serviceyears = 1989 – Present
}}
Muhammad Asim Malik, {{small|HI(M)}} is a Pakistani three-star general and the current Director-General of Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), a position he has held since 30 September 2024.{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2498118/lt-gen-muhammad-asim-malik-appointed-new-dg-isi|title=Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik appointed new DG ISI|publisher=The Express Tribune|date=23 September 2024|access-date=23 September 2024|archive-date=23 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923120737/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2498118/lt-gen-muhammad-asim-malik-appointed-new-dg-isi|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/amp/external-affairs-defence-security/news/pakistan-s-isi-gets-a-new-chief-in-lt-gen-md-asim-malik-who-is-he-124092300659_1.html|title=Pakistan's ISI gets a new chief in Lt Gen Md Asim Malik: Who is he?|author=Bhaswar Kumar|publisher=Business Standard|date=23 September 2024|access-date=23 September 2024|archive-date=23 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923120737/https://www.business-standard.com/amp/external-affairs-defence-security/news/pakistan-s-isi-gets-a-new-chief-in-lt-gen-md-asim-malik-who-is-he-124092300659_1.html|url-status=live}} He is the first PhD holder to be appointed Director-General of the ISI.
Early life and education
Malik was born to Lt. Gen. (R.) Ghulam Muhammad Malik into a Punjabi Awan family with their ancestral roots in Shahpur, a city located in the Sargodha District of the Punjab province.{{Cite web |last=Banerji |first=Rana |date=24 September 2024 |title=Pakistan Gets A New ISI Boss |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/column/pakistan-gets-a-new-isi-boss/20240924.htm |website=Rediff.com |quote=The Maliks are from the Awan tribe, hailing from Shahpur in Sargodha district, traditionally part of central Punjab's recruiting heartland for the Pakistan army. |access-date=26 September 2024 |archive-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926104927/https://www.rediff.com/news/column/pakistan-gets-a-new-isi-boss/20240924.htm |url-status=live }}
Malik earned his BSc (Hons) from the University of Balochistan in 1999{{Cite web |last=Syed |first=Baqir Sajjad |date=2024-09-24 |title=Gen Asim Malik named new ISI chief |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1860806/gen-asim-malik-named-new-isi-chief |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en |archive-date=2024-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925013742/https://www.dawn.com/news/1860806/gen-asim-malik-named-new-isi-chief |url-status=live }} and then studied at Fort Leavenworth in the United States, where he has written thesis on Mountain Warfare titled as the Mountain Warfare: The Need for Specialist Training. Malik also attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. Additionally, Malik obtained the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) on the US-Pakistan relations from the National Defence University.{{Cite web |title=Gen Asim Malik appointed first PhD-holding chief of ISI |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1233315-gen-asim-malik-appointed-first-phd-holding-chief-of-isi |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}} He was a graduate of the Pakistan Military Academy's 80th Long Course and was the recipient of the Sword of Honour during his course.
Military career
Malik was commissioned in the 12th Baloch Regiment in 1989, winning sword of honour of 80th PMA Long Course. {{Cite web |date=2015-06-10 |title=Sword of Honour Winners, PMA, Kakul, Abbotabad |url=https://thepakistanpage.wordpress.com/2015/06/10/sword-of-honour-winners-pma-kakul-abbotabad/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=The Pakistan Page |language=en |archive-date=2025-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130054829/https://thepakistanpage.wordpress.com/2015/06/10/sword-of-honour-winners-pma-kakul-abbotabad/ |url-status=live }}
Malik served as the Chief Instructor at the National Defence University in Islamabad and as an instructor at the Pakistan Command and Staff College in Quetta.{{Cite web |last=Dawn.com |date=2024-09-23 |title=Lt Gen Asim Malik appointed new DG ISI: state media |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1860627/lt-gen-asim-malik-appointed-new-dg-isi-state-media |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923131601/https://www.dawn.com/news/1860627/lt-gen-asim-malik-appointed-new-dg-isi-state-media |archive-date=2024-09-23 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}
Throughout his military career, he has been part of the Baloch Regiment. As a major general, he led the 41st Infantry Division in Balochistan and commanded an Infantry Brigade in Waziristan. He has also worked in the Military Operations Directorate.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-23 |title=Who Is Pakistan's New Spy Chief Lt General Asim Malik? |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/23-Sep-2024/who-is-pakistan-s-new-spy-chief-lt-general-asim-malik |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=The Friday Times |language=en |archive-date=2024-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925175340/https://thefridaytimes.com/23-Sep-2024/who-is-pakistan-s-new-spy-chief-lt-general-asim-malik |url-status=live }}
= As Adjutant General =
In October 2021, during his tenure as a Major General, Malik was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant General and was appointed to the position of Adjutant General (AG) at GHQ, Rawalpindi by then Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa.{{Cite web |last=Chaudhry |first=Dawn com {{!}} Fahad |date=2021-10-06 |title=In military shuffle, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum replaces Lt Gen Faiz Hameed as top spymaster |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1650461 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en |archive-date=2024-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923131601/https://www.dawn.com/news/1650461 |url-status=live }}
In his role as AG of the Pakistan Army, Lt. Gen. Malik handled the investigation into the May 9 riots and was believed to have initiated and overseen the court martial proceedings of former Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, who faced military trial on charges of corruption and breaches of military discipline following his retirement.{{Cite web |last=kamran.yousaf |date=2024-09-23 |title=Lt Gen Asim Malik appointed new DG ISI |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2498197/lt-gen-asim-malik-appointed-new-dg-isi |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |archive-date=2024-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923143224/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2498197/lt-gen-asim-malik-appointed-new-dg-isi |url-status=live }}
= As Director General ISI =
On 23 September 2024, Malik was appointed to succeed Nadeem Anjum as the Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI), with his term beginning on 30 September 2024.{{Cite web |last=Rehman |first=Laiq Ur |date=2024-09-23 |title=Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik appointed as DG ISI |url=https://arynews.tv/lt-gen-muhammad-asim-malik-appointed-as-dg-isi/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=ARY NEWS |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924013034/https://arynews.tv/lt-gen-muhammad-asim-malik-appointed-as-dg-isi/ |url-status=live }} The announcement was made by the Pakistan Television Corporation, a departure from previous practice, where such appointments were typically announced by the Prime Minister's Office or Inter-Services Public Relations. Although Malik has limited experience in intelligence-specific roles,{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Abid |title=Who is Pakistan’s new spy chief Asim Malik? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/24/who-is-pakistans-new-spy-chief-asim-malik |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=2024-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925072534/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/24/who-is-pakistans-new-spy-chief-asim-malik |url-status=live }} his appointment comes at a time of political instability, rising militancy, and heightened public attention on the ISI.
Sources within military circles indicated that Malik shares a strong connection with COAS Asim Munir, who views him as a trusted confidant. Both are the recipients of the prestigious Sword of Honour when they graduated from their respective cadet courses before induction as junior officers of the Pakistan Army.
Awards and decorations
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hilal-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Diffa.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Baqa (1998).png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Istaqlal (2002).png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Azm.png|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=10 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=20 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=30 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Jamhuriat Tamgha 1988.png|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha Pakistan.svg|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal, 2006.svg|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Medal 2007.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=MONUC Medal bar.gif|width=130}} |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| | colspan="2" |Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) | |
| Tamgha-e-Diffa
(General Service Medal) 1998 2002 (Medal of Conviction) (2018) |
| 10 Years Service Medal
(Democracy Medal) 1988 |
| Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha
(Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990 (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1997 |Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Student's Medal 2005 (2 Deployments) |
Publications
- Mountain Warfare: The Need for Specialist Training, 2003.{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Muhammad Asim |date=February 23, 2015 |title=Mountain Warfare: The Need for Specialist Training |url=https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Warfare-Specialist-Training-College/dp/129747449X |access-date=February 14, 2025 |archive-date=January 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120123543/https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Warfare-Specialist-Training-College/dp/129747449X |url-status=live }}
References
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{{Inter-Services Intelligence}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malik, Asim}}
Category:Pakistan Army lieutenant generals
Category:Directors General of Inter-Services Intelligence
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Pakistan Army personnel
Category:University of Balochistan alumni
Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies
Category:National Defence University, Pakistan alumni
Category:Pakistan Military Academy alumni
Category:Academic staff of the National Defence University, Pakistan
Category:Baloch Regiment officers