Islamabad: Lt Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, Corps Commander of Rawalpindi, has been appointed as the new chief of Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI succeeding Gen Ahsanul Haq who will take over as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Military Staff later this week.

Kiyani, who earlier held the post of Director General of Military Operations, a key assignment involving hotline contacts with Indian Army counterparts to discuss operational issues, was promoted to the post by President Pervez Musharraf.

Musharraf last night also promoted seven Major Generals to the status of Lt Generals who will have a three star status.