Scheduled to retire later this month, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum will now continue in his role for an additional year, putting an end to speculation that had been circulating on social media. Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has officially announced the extension of the service term for the head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum. Although the formal announcement is pending from the Pakistan Army, the premier clarified the situation in an interview with an international media outlet.
The extension comes in the wake of a surge in terrorist attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban withdrew from a ceasefire agreement in November of the previous year. Notably, one of the deadliest attacks occurred in Peshawar, where a suicide bomber targeted a mosque within the highly-fortified police lines of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital.
Acknowledging the context of security concerns, Prime Minister Kakar emphasized the significance of policy continuity, stating, “You want to have a continuation of the process, and for you, the continuation of that process is important so that the idea or practice or brand gets entrenched.” He highlighted that many institutions and the political dispensation felt that extending Lt Gen Anjum’s tenure would be beneficial. Lt Gen Anjum assumed the position of DG ISI on November 20, 2022.