ISLAMABAD: Defence Secretary retired Lt Gen Asif Yasin Malik retired on Tuesday on completion of his contract. The government has not yet named his successor.

Several names, including retired army generals and serving bureaucrats, are said to be under consideration for the post.

The position has been traditionally held by military’s nominees, though civilian bureaucrats too have been appointed as defence secretary in past.

Defence secretary’s position has assumed added significance in view of the current state of civil-military relations.

Mr Malik served as defence secretary for two years. He was appointed in July, 2012, on a two-year contract.

He had retired from active military service in December, 2011. Mr Malik had assumed the charge of defence secretary at the time when Pakistan and the United States were renewing their ties following American apology on the Salala incident. He oversaw the signing of MoU on Nato supply routes between Pakistan and the US on his first day in office.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014