Nadeem Anjum

Lieutenant General
Nadeem Ahmed Anjum
HI(M)
ندیم احمد انجم
Anjum in 2023
30th Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence
In office
20 November 2021 – 29 September 2024
PresidentArif Alvi
Asif Ali Zardari
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Shehbaz Sharif
Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (Caretaker)
Shehbaz Sharif
Preceded byLt. General Faiz Hameed
Succeeded byLt. General Asim Malik
Commander V Corps
Karachi, Sindh
In office
December 2020 – 9 November 2021
Preceded byLt. Gen. Hamayun Aziz
Succeeded byLt. Gen. Muhammed Saeed[1]
Commandant
Command and Staff College Quetta
In office
November 2018 – December 2020
Preceded bySarfraz Ali
IG Frontier Corps (Balochistan)
In office
14 December 2016 – November 2018
Personal details
BornMohra Sheikhan, Kauntrila, Rawalpindi District
Alma mater
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Army
Years of service1988-2024
Rank Lieutenant General
UnitPunjab Regiment
Battles/warsInsurgency in Balochistan
Operation Zarb-e-Azb
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad
AwardsHilal-i-Imtiaz

Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum is a retired three-star general of the Pakistan Army, who last served as the Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence from 20 November 2021 to 29 September 2024.[3]

Early life and education

Nadeem Anjum was born into a Punjabi Shaikh family. He hails from the village of Mohra Sheikhan located in Kauntrila, in the Gujar Khan Tehsil of Rawalpindi District.[4]

A product of the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Anjum is a graduate from the National Defence University (NDU) and later earned a master's degree from King's College, London, having also studied at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies, USA, then serving as an instructor at the PMA, at the NDU as well at the Army Staff College.[5]

He is known to enjoy running, basketball and cricket[6] and is also considered to be an avid reader.[7]

Military career

He was first commissioned in September 1988[7] in the 28th Punjab Regiment and is from the 77th PMA Long Course.

He served as the Inspector-General of the Frontier Corps in Balochistan from December 2016 to December 2018.[8][9][10] For his role against the insurgency in Balochistan he eventually earned the title of Mohsin-e-Pakistan or benefactor of Pakistan.[7]

He has also served as Corps Commander of the V Corps from December 2020 to October 2021.[11][12][13][14]

DG-ISI

Appointment

At the beginning of October 2021 the Prime Minister's Office formally received three names from the COAS for the appointment of a new Director-General of the ISI, including Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum, Lt. Gen. Sarfraz Ali and Lt. Gen. Saqib Malik.[15][16][17] Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum was appointed DG ISI on 20 November 2021. [18]

Press conference of October 2022

This marked the first time that the head of the ISI gave a live briefing or even addressed the media.[19]

The pair addressed and tried to answer multiple issues that were taking place at the time, especially regarding Lettergate, Arshad Sharif's death, the failed assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the military's support of Shahbaz Sharif amidst the alleged involvement of General Bajwa towards Imran Khan's ouster, and Khan's Azadi March 2022.[20]

Regarding the Lettergate affair, Anjum asserted that during the National Security Committee of Pakistan's meeting on the cypher, Anjum "categorically clarified" that there was "no evidence found" regarding a foreign conspiracy to oust the PTI-led government. However, in National Security Council meeting, cypher was found to be real as presented in the NSC meeting and a strong demarche was issued.[21] Therefore, in the National Security Committee meeting on the cypher, both civil and military leadership jointly agreed that the cypher represented a "blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan",[22] and issued a demarche to the Acting US envoy in Islamabad in response.[23]

Extension

In September 2023, Anjum's tenure as ISI chief was extended for one year.[24][25]

On 23 September 2024, it was reported that Anjum will retire from army service on 30 September 2024.[3]

Controversies

Appointment

His appointment as Director-General of the ISI attracted controversy, due to the civilian government not being consulted, despite the appointment needing its approval. A deadlock ensued between the civil government and the military, leading to the civil government taking three weeks to approve Anjum’s appointment as Director-General.[26]

Murder of Arshad Sharif

The mother of Arshad Sharif accused senior Pakistani intelligence officers of involvement in the murder, including the then-Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the head of the ISI, General Nadeem Anjum, for the "targeted, premeditated, planned and calculated murder" of her son.[27][28]

Following the assassination of Sharif, the Ministry of Interior removed ISI representatives from the team that traveled to Kenya to investigate Sharif's killing.[29]

Vote of no confidence against Imran Khan

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman alleged that Anjum influenced the vote of no confidence against Imran Khan.[30][31] He articulated that Anjum was serving as the head of ISI while Qamar Javed Bajwa was the Chief of the Army Staff during the time of the no-confidence vote.[32]

Awards and decorations

Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

Tamgha-e-Diffa

(General Service Medal)

Siachen Glacier Clasp

Tamgha-e-Baqa

(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998

Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan

(Escalation with India Medal)

2002

Tamgha-e-Azm

(Medal of Conviction)

(2018)

10 Years Service Medal 20 Years Service Medal 30 Years Service Medal 35 Years Service Medal
Jamhuriat Tamgha

(Democracy Medal)

1988

Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha

(Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990

Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan

(Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997

Command and Staff College Quetta

Centenary Instructor's Medal

Effective dates of promotion

Insignia Rank Date
Lieutenant General September 2019
Major General January 2016[33]
Brigadier January 2012
Colonel April 2008
Lieutenant Colonel September 2004
Major October 1999
Captain April 1994
Lieutenant April 1990
Second Lieutenant September 1988

References

  1. ^ "Lt-Gen Nadeem hands over command of Karachi Corps to Lt-Gen Saeed". The News International (newspaper). 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Who is DG ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum?". BOL News. 6 October 2021. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b Dawn.com (2024-09-23). "Lt Gen Asim Malik appointed new DG ISI: state media". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  4. ^ Khan, Omer Farooq (28 October 2021). "Nadeem Anjum fourth ISI boss from Punjab regiment". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Meet Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, the new ISI DG". Daily Pakistan. 6 October 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  6. ^ "LIEUTENANT GENERAL NADEEM AHMED ANJUM". Bol News. 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Who is Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, Pakistan's new ISI chief?". CNBC TV18. 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Maj Gen Saeed appointed DG Rangers Sindh, Maj Gen Nadeem Anjum as IG FC Balochistan". Pakistan Today (newspaper). Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  9. ^ "نئے ڈی جی رینجرز سندھ اور آئی جی ایف سی بلوچستان کی تعیناتی -". ARY News (in Urdu). December 14, 2016. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  10. ^ "Meeting with Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum, Commandant Command & Staff College – Government of Balochistan". Government of Balochistan (balochistan.gov.pk). 9 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  11. ^ "6 Pak Army major generals promoted to lieutenant general rank". Dawn (newspaper). 2020-11-25. Archived from the original on 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  12. ^ "کورکمانڈر کراچی لیفٹیننٹ جنرل ندیم احمد انجم کا سینٹرل پولیس آفس کا دورہ". Geo News (in Urdu). 19 May 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  13. ^ "کور کمانڈر کراچی لیفٹیننٹ جنرل ندیم احمد انجم کی مزار قائد پر حاضری". Bol News (in Urdu). September 6, 2021. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  14. ^ "کور کمانڈر کراچی کا سینٹرل پولیس آفس کراچی کا دورہ". Daily Jang (newspaper) (in Urdu). 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  15. ^ "نئے ڈی جی آئی ایس آئی کیلیے 3 نام وزیراعظم آفس کو موصول، لیفٹیننٹ جنرل ندیم انجم کا نام بھی شامل". October 13, 2021. Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  16. ^ "PM Imran Khan, Gen Bajwa complete deliberations over DG ISI's appointment". Archived from the original on 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  17. ^ "Consultation between PM, COAS over DG ISI completed, new appointment process underway: Fawad". 13 October 2021. Archived from the original on 14 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  18. ^ "PM Imran appoints Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as new DG ISI: Naveed Siddiqui". October 26, 2021. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  19. ^ Pundir, Pallavi (28 October 2022). "One of the World's Most Secretive Spy Agencies Just Held Their First Press Conference". Vice. Vice News. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  20. ^ Shehzad, Mohammad (2022-10-28). "The Message Sent Out At DG ISI Presser Was Clear And Ominous". The Friday Times - Naya Daur. Archived from the original on 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  21. ^ "NSC decides to issue strong demarche to unnamed country over 'threat letter'". 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  22. ^ Khan, Sanaullah (31 March 2022). "NSC decides to issue strong demarche to unnamed country over 'threat letter'". Dawn. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  23. ^ Yousaf, Kamran (31 March 2022). "Protest lodged with US over 'threatening memo'". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 27 August 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Pakistan's ISI chief Nadeem Anjum gets one-year extension". bolnews. 10 Nov 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 Nov 2023.
  25. ^ "Pakistan's ISI chief Anjum gets one-year extension". The Tribune India. 16 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  26. ^ "Who is Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, Pakistan's new ISI chief?". CNBCTV18. 2021-10-27. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  27. ^ "Slain Journalist Arshad Sharif's Mother Wants Gen Bajwa, DG ISI To Be Nominated In The FIR". The Friday Times. 7 December 2022. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  28. ^ Malik, Hasnaat (7 December 2022). "SC orders special JIT on journalist's murder". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  29. ^ "ISI official excluded from Arshad's murder probe". The Express Tribune. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Nadeem Anjum, not Faiz, involved in VONC, clarifies Maulana". Aaj English TV. 2024-02-16. Archived from the original on 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  31. ^ "JUI-F chief admits 'gaffe' about ex-ISI DG". The Express Tribune. 16 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  32. ^ "Fazlur Rehman makes new claims about no-confidence motion, 2018 elections". www.24newshd.tv. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  33. ^ "Major General Saeed made DG Rangers Sindh". 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
Military offices
Preceded by Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence Succeeded by
Current