Syed Asif Ibrahim, former chief of Intelligence Bureau, has been appointed as Special Envoy on Counter Terrorism and Extremism in the PMO, five months after he retired from service.
The IPS officer of 1977-batch will report to National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and work from the National Security Council Secretariat, official sources said on Friday.
Ibrahim is considered an expert on terrorism and extremism that has been afflicting Pakistan and West Asia which is an emerging threat to the world. His new role will involve liaisoning with his counterparts in Pakistan as well as in West Asia.
He had retired as IB Director in December last year.His appointment with the specific designation indicates the government's concern over the rise of Islamic State and its taking over of parts of Iraq and Syria.
Significantly, Doval was also formerly the IB Director.
Born in September 1953, Ibrahim had held the position of IB Director from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014, becoming the first Muslim to hold the important position.
