Pakistan Army Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar has reportedly assumed the role of chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Dawn reported that a military official confirmed that Gen Akhtar had taken over as the next director general of ISI, succeeding retired Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam.
Akhtar, a close associate of Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, was named as director general of the ISI by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in September.
Akhtar's appointment as the ISI chief comes at a time when Pakistan is dealing with both internal and external challenges, including the arrival of Islamic State jihadists in the country.
