National Security Council (Pakistan)
Federal Secretary National Security Division) | |
| Parent agency | Prime Minister's Office |
|---|---|
The National Security Council (
reporting name: NSC) is a federal institutional and consultative body chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan as its chairman. The NSC is a principal forum that is mandated for considering national security and foreign policy matters with the senior national security advisers and Cabinet ministers.[1] The idea and inception of National Security Council was first conceived in 1969 under the President Yahya Khan
, its functions were to advise and assist the president and prime minister on national security and foreign policies.
The National Security Council was re-created by then-
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), with a unified confirmations from the Parliament, and its functions has been taken under control by the Defence Cabinet Committee as of 2009.[1]
The council was revived under Nawaz Sharif, who presides over meetings of the council when there is an emergency, such as hostilities between
Structure
Former Constitution Basis
The Constitution of Pakistan in the past provided for the National Security Council. However, the provision was repealed by the 18th Amendment.
Permanent Officiates
The membership position does not depend on the will of the chairman, who is the elected Prime Minister of Pakistan.[5] Depending on the agenda of the meeting, other concerned persons are also invited in the meeting of the NSC.[5]
| Ex-Officio members and permanent officials | Public office and Statutory |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the National Security Council | Prime Minister of Pakistan |
| Secretary | Federal Secretary National Security Division
|
| Advisor | National Security Advisor |
| Military Advisor | Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee |
| Intelligence Advisor | |
| Statutory Attendees | Minister of Law and Justice
|
| Military Attendees | Chief of Navy Staff
|
| Additional attendees |
The usual cabinet-level meetings at the NSC takes the following agenda and members of the following authorities are usually invited:
Current
- National Command Authority (NCA)
- Cabinet Committee on National Security (C2NS)
- Economic Coordination Committee (ECC)
Former
- Executive Committee of the Space Research Council (ECSRC) — deactivated since 1985.
Functions
The Council serves as a forum for consultation for the president and the federal government on matters of national security including the sovereignty, integrity, defence and security of the State and crisis management in general. It may also formulate recommendations to the president and the federal government in such matters.
National Security Advisers
| No | Name | Term of Office | Previous service cadre | Prime Minister | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Major-General Ghulam Omar[6]
|
25 March 1969 | 20 December 1971 | Inter-Services Selection Branch
|
Nurul Amin |
| 2 | General Tikka Khan[7] | 3 March 1972 | 1 March 1976 | Inter-Services Selection Branch
|
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto |
| 3 | Major-General Rao Farman Ali[7]
|
29 March 1985 | 17 August 1988 | Inter-Services Selection Branch
|
Muhammad Khan Junejo
|
| 4 | Tariq Aziz[8] | 4 April 2004 | 18 August 2008 | Central Superior Services
|
Yousaf Raza Gillani
|
| 5 | Major-General Mahmud Ali Durrani
|
19 August 2008 | 7 January 2009 | Inter-Services Selection Branch
|
Yousaf Raza Gillani
|
| 6 | Sartaj Aziz[9] | 7 July 2013 | 22 October 2015 | Central Superior Services
|
Nawaz Sharif |
| 7 | Nasser Khan Janjua[10]
|
23 October 2015 | 27 June 2018 | Inter-Services Selection Branch
|
Nawaz Sharif |
| 8 | Moeed Yusuf | 24 December 2019 | 10 April 2022 | — | Imran Khan |
History
Inception: 1969–1971
National Security Council (NSC)
in 1969.The
foreign policy matters.[1] The proposal was forwarded to President Office, and then to President Yahya Khan with strong recommendations for its approval.[1]
In 1969,
Major-General Ghulam Omar was appointed NSC's first secretary and was posted at the General Headquarters (GHQ) to perform operations of NSC under President Yahya Khan.[1] The NSC secretariat was part of the President Office and the Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) and was directly under the control of the military establishment which then-functioned under President Yahya Khan's staff.[1]
The NSC secretariat was highly unpopular in public and political circles of Pakistan, and it quickly gained notoriety in
civil society due to its involvement in political and civilian affairs.[1] The NSC secretariat did not figure in the decision-making of the military government because President Yahya Khan ran his government administration as personalized enterprise relaying heavily on his close and trusted military and bureaucratic advisers.[1] The NSC Secretary, Major-General Ghulam Omar, was less focused on national issues whilst kept his interest in combat development. The NSC Secretariat under Yahya Khan was only a paper organization.[1]
The Genesis: 1985–1999
| Participants in debates | Cadre/Office | Vote | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nawaz Sharif[11] | Prime Minister |  |
Voted and Ordered tests |
| Sartaj Aziz[11] | Finance Minister |
 |
Opposed but later retraced. |
Mushahid Hussain[12] |
Information Minister |
|
First to propose in favor of tests |
| Gohar Ayub | Foreign Minister |
|
|
| Ishaq Dar[13] | Commerce Minister |
|
Support in favor of tests |
| Shamshad Ahmad[11] | Foreign Secretary | |
|
Chief of army staff |
|
Spoke in favor but left decision on Sharif | |
| Adm. Fasih Bokhari[14] | Chief of Naval Staff |
|
Opposed tests on moral ground |
PQ Mehdi[11] |
Chief of Air Staff |
|
Supported and provide logistics[15] |
| Dr.Abdul Qadeer Khan[11] | Senior scientist at KRL | |
Debated and proposed tests |
| Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad[11] |
Senior scientist at PAEC | |
Supported in favor tests |
| Dr.Samar Mubarakmand[11] | Senior scientist at PAEC | |
Debated in favor of tests |
| Munir Ahmad Khan[11] | Senior scientist at PAEC | |
Debated in favor of tests |
| Ahmad Kamal[16] | Representative to UN | |
Diplomatic in favor of tests |
| Javed Hashmi: 128–129 [17] | Environmental Minister |
|
Debated in favor of tests |
The concept of National Security Council as a bridge of stabilizing the
military spectrum of Pakistan since 1971.[2] In 1973, Pakistan military has sent repeated recommendations of peculiar structure of the NSC in which senior military commanders of Pakistan Armed Forces are ensured a seat at the table.[2] The proposal was met with heated criticism in the state parliament and Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto instead issued a white paper
on Higher Defence Organisations (HDO) in May 1976, outlining
the institutional arrangements for dealing with defence and security affairs. This led the ultimate creation of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) which has the mandate of responsibility of national defence rested with the prime minister. The DCC conveys matters to other important organisations involved in the national security decision-making on security affairs included the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the JS HQ of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and its
Chairman, the Chiefs of Staff of the Pakistan Armed Forces.[2]
After the enactment of the
chief of army staff General Zia-ul-Haq in 1977, the DCC had remained active. After holding successful referendum, followed by non-partisan general elections in 1985, President General Zia-ul-Haq authored and inserted Article 152-A to the Constitution through the Revival of the Constitution Order (RCO), in March 1985.[2] This led the establish a National Security Council for accommodating the high-ranking military leadership in policy making.[2] The NSC was empowered to "make recommendations relating to the issue of a Proclamation of Emergency under Article 232, security of Pakistan and any other matter of national importance that may be referred to it by the President in consultation with the Prime Minister."[2]
The NSC was opposed by most political circles and it had to be dropped as a part of the deal with the Parliament to get the parliamentary approval for the revised version of the Revival of the Constitution Order (RCO) as Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, in October 1985.[2] The NSC was dissolved by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1993 and reactivated the DCC operationalize in its place.[2]
From 1998–99, there were only two NSC meetings took place which were chaired by the Prime Minister Sharif; first occasion when Sharif ordered Pakistan's
national security and military point of view, the final decision was left on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's say.[18] After the decision was made, General Karamat was notified of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's decision and asked the military to be stand-by orders. After providing the joint military logistics, the nuclear tests were eventually carried out on 28 May 1998, as Chagai-I, and on 30 May 1998 as codename: Chagai-II.[19] As dawn broke over the Chagai mountains, Pakistan became the world's seventh nuclear power.[20]
Secondly, the NSC meeting took place during the heights of the
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999 when he tried to dismissed then-Chairman Joint Chiefs Pervez Musharraf.[22]
Reconstruction and developments: 2004–2008
| Participants in debates | Cadre/Office | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Pervez Musharraf[23] | (Chief of army staff) |
|
| Shaukat Aziz[23] | (Finance Minister) |
|
Gen Ehsan-ul-Haq[23] |
Chairman Joint Chiefs |
|
Khurshid Kasuri[23] |
Foreign Minister |
|
| Adm Afzal Tahir[23] | Chief of Naval Staff |
|
| Tariq Aziz[23] | NSA |
|
ACM Tanvir Ahmed |
Chief of Air Staff |
|
Aftab Sherpao[23] |
Interior Minister |
|
Shujaat Hussain[23] |
President, PML(Q) |
|
Ijaz-ul-Haq[23] |
Religion minister |
|
| Tariq Azim[23] | Pakistan Senator |
|
| Ali Khan[23] | Attorney General |
|
| Muhammad Durrani[23] | Information Minister |
|
After staging a
General Pervez Musharraf created the office in Aiwan-e-Sadr, and appoint civil bureaucrat Tariq Aziz as the first National Security Advisor.[2]
According to PILDT, since its reestablishment, Musharraf conveyed very few national security meetings, and most meetings were conducted to discuss political situations only.
He resigned from the post of NSC secretariat when Musharraf resigned from presidency on 18 August 2008. He was succeeded by
Yousaf Raza Gillani
in January 2009 for "not consulting the Prime Minister while giving statements on foreign relation matters". The matter in question was the acceptance by the Government of Pakistan of the Pakistani nationality of the sole surviving terrorist Ajmal Kasab, who was involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks and was in the custody of the Mumbai police.
Abolition and suspension (2008–2009)
After the incident, Prime Minister Gillani vowed to abolish the National Security Council in February 2009.Defence Committee of the Cabinet is re-activated in its place by the current government.[2]
Since 2009, there has been no appointed new NSC adviser and no national security meetings have been conducted since then.[2] Its operations and mandate has been integrated to the DCC meeting, and there has been ninth DCC meeting taken place since 2009.[2]
Restorative status (2013–present)
Upon conclusion of the
military gaining representation in the country's politics, the NSC came into effect as an influential policy institution.[27]
Decision came from
far-right insurgency that has killed and maimed thousands of Pakistanis over the last few years.[9]
According to the
civic-military relations expert, Aqil Shah, Sharif finally did what exactly former chairman joint chiefs General Karamat had called for in 1998.[27] Since then, the NSC meetings with Prime Minister Sharif have been taking place frequently.[3]
See also
- Constitution of Pakistan
- Pakistan Armed Forces
Sources
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l PILDT. "The Evolution of National Security Council in Pakistan". Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency. PILDT. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDT). "Performance of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet of Pakistan". Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency. Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDT). Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Border clashes: PM summons National Security Council meeting - The Express Tribune". tribune.com.pk. 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 July 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Crucial National Security Committee meeting begins". Archived from the original on 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2014-10-10.
- ^ a b Jaspal, Zafar Nawaz (16 March 2002). "National Security Council: Implications for Pakistan's Political System". www.defencejournal.com. Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan: Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ISBN 978-969-558-265-7. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ a b Singh, Sushant (23 October 2015). "Naseer Janjua as Pakistan's NSA further diminishes PM Nawaz Sharif". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ Bhattacharjee, Dhrubajyoti. "Pakistan and the Failure of the NSA Level Dialogue". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ a b Khan, Sumaira (23 September 2013). "Battling militancy: Govt revives National Security Council". Express Tribune, 2013. Express Tribune, 2013. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Janjua takes over as Pakistan's NSA". Gulf News. 23 October 2015. Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Azam, Rai M. S. (20 June 2000). "When Mountains Move – The Story of Chagai". Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Mushahid Hussain Syed". Archived from the original on 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ISBN 0804784809.
- ^ Ahmad Noorani (October 11, 2011). "Why Admiral Bokhari is a favourite of Zardari, rejected by Nawaz". The News International. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ Hali, SM (25 March 2009). "A new dawn". Special report on PAF by SM Hali. THe Nation, 2009. THe Nation. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ Koppel, Andrea (27 May 1998). "World — Asia-Pacific U.S. sources: Pakistan edging closer to nuclear tests". State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel, Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre, Reporter Kasra Naji and Reuters contributed to this report. CNN Pakistan Bureau. CNN Pakistan Bureau. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ Hashmi, Javed (2005). "My Father and Pakistan Movement" (scribd). In Waheed, Manzar (ed.). (Yes! I am Rebel) ىاں! ميں باغىى ہوں (1st ed.). Lahore, Pun. Pakistan: Sager Publication. p. 409. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-60127-075-7. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ^ Azam, Rai Muhammad Saleh (2 June 2000). "When Mountains Move – The Story of Chagai". Article written by RMS Azam ives a detailed account of events and personalities leading to Pakistan first nuclear explosion. The Nation, 1998. The Nation, 1998. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ISBN 0-300-10147-3. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ^ Jaisingh, Hari (9 October 1998). "Beleaguered Sharif wins first round". Tribune India, 1998. Tribune India. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
- ISBN 0-8157-9761-3. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
Jehangir Karamat National Security Council.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l GEO News (31 July 2007). "Important events coverage by GEO TV". GEO News, 2007. GEO News. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ISBN 8176481572.
- ^ Harris, Hanif (7 June 2013). "Cabinet appointed by Sharif". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ "Nawaz Sharif chairs All Party Meeting". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018 – via Business Standard.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-674-41977-3. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
Additional works on NSC
- Durrani, Mahmood Ali. (21 September 2013). "On National Security". thenews.com.pk/. Islamabad, Pakistan: News International. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- Jaspal, Zafar Nawaz (16 March 2002). "National Security Council: Implications for Pakistan's Political System". defencejournal.com/. Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan: Defence Journal. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- Hussain, PhD, Dr. Riffat (9 October 2013). "Securing the system". Opinion articiel written and published by Karachi University's political science professor Dr. Riffat Hussain. Islamabad: Herald, Dawn area studies. Herald, Dawn area studies. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
Constitutional analysis
- Constitution of Pakistan. "Article: 152A National Security Council". pakistanconstitutionlaw.com/. Supreme Court of Pakistan Press. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- Government of Pakistan (12 October 1999). "Appointment of National Security Council". pakistani.org/. Govt. of Pakistan. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
Bibliography
- Henderson, Annalisa; Miller, Isabel (2006). "Pakistan". In Preston, Ian; Rowe, Annamarie (eds.). Political Chronology of Central, South, and East Asia. London [u.k]: Europa Publications. p. 277. ISBN 1135356807.
- Akbar, M.K. (1997). Pakistan from Jinnah to Sharif. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. ISBN 8170996740.