NSC 5 Years Report 120319.Cdr

Performance of the National Security Committee 2013-2018

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency Performance of the National Security Committee 2013-2018

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency PILDAT is an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit indigenous research and training institution with the mission to strengthen democracy and democratic institutions in Pakistan.

PILDAT is a registered non-profit entity under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, Pakistan.

Printed in Pakistan

Published: January 2019

ISBN: 978-969-558-735-5

Any part of this publication can be used or cited with a clear reference to PILDAT.

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency

Islamabad Office: P. O. Box 278, F-8, Postal Code: 44220, Islamabad, Pakistan Lahore Office: P. O. Box 11098, L.C.C.H.S, Postal Code: 54792, Lahore, Pakistan E-mail: [email protected] | Website: www.pildat.org P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

CONTENTS

Preface 05 Executive Summary 07

Background 09

Meetings of the National Security Committee in 5 Years 12

Analysis of 5-Year Performance of the NSC 17

Conclusions 20

List of Tables & Figures

Table 1: Composition of the National Security Committee 10 Figure 1: Structure of the National Security Division 11 Figure 2: Number of NSC Meetings in 5 Years: 2013-2018 17 Figure 3: Year-wise Meetings of the NSC: 2013-2018 17

P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

PREFACEACE Since its formation, Pakistan has struggled to find a stable structure to balance civil-military equation in the country. Ascendancy of the military in policy-making spheres has been the biggest hindrance in the consolidation of democracy in Pakistan. Other than four direct military interventions spanning a total of 30 years, the military has assumed de-facto authority on various aspects of governance including foreign policy and defence.

The performance of the National Security Committee 2013-2018 report is prepared by PILDAT in the backdrop of principle of democratic oversight of defence and national security. It is the continuation of PILDAT's previous reports that examined the performance of the DCC during March 2008 to March 2013 and Citizens Report on Performance of the National Security Committee June 2013-May 2014. The report closely examines the publicly available data and the reports in the media regarding the meetings and performance of the NSC.

The objective of the report is not to offer a critique of the work of the Committee but to analyse the performance in the backdrop of peculiar security needs of Pakistan and the role NSC is playing with respect to defining and influencing policy and principles of defence and national security. It presents reform proposals for the new government in conclusion.

The report is part of PILDAT's larger focus on improving civil-military relations in Pakistan in the light of the Constitution of Pakistan.

Disclaimer PILDAT and its team made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this paper and do not accept responsibility for any omission and error, as it is not deliberate.

Lahore January 2019

P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

EXECUTIVE SUMMAR SUMMARY Y On August 22, 2013, the elected Federal Government led by the PML-N established a Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS) and notified the setting up of a new National Security Division to serve as the secretariat of the Committee. This body replaced the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) which had no independent secretariat, staff or support infrastructure and which had infrequently met – only 12 times in 5 years of the PPP Government from 2008- 2013. The nomenclature of the CCNS was later changed to the National Security Committee – NSC and in a later development, the NSC was converted into a 'decision-making body' and not a consultative forum as it exists in other democracies. 1

Formation of the National Security Committee (NSC) is seen as the most important step not only towards institutionalization of consultation on national security strategies and actions, a process central to democratic decision making in every country's defence and security system, but it is most crucial in the case of Pakistan so as to bridge the gap between the perceptions of the civil and the military and resolve the conflicts in civil-military relations.

Although the PML-N Government did fulfil one of its manifesto pledges and established the NSC, it made severely slow progress towards institutionalization of decision-making on matters of national security through the NSC. For most of these 5 years, the NSC was kept dormant relying instead on one-on-one meetings between the Premier and the COAS. This direct access of the COAS to the Prime Minister may have also undermined the role of the Defence Minister and the National Security Advisor.

The bitter reality is evident in numbers. In a country facing more than its fair share of security and related foreign policy crises, the NSC met for only 23 times in five years; 9 times under the four-year stint of Mr. Nawaz Sharif as elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, and 14 times under the ten-month Premiership of Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The NSC met on an average of 4.6 times in the past five years, almost double the average of DCC during 2008-2013 which met a total of 12 times from 2008-2013.

Now compare this with meetings and interactions between Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff. During the 5 year period, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met COAS Raheel Sharif 106 times and COAS Bajwa 13 times while only 9 meetings of the NSC were held under his tenure. Similarly, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met COAS Bajwa 26 times while 14 NSC meetings were held under his tenure.

It needs to be noted that out of the total of Premier-COAS interactions, 35 of these meetings (i.e., 29% of the total times they met) were one-on-one interactions between the Prime Minister Sharif and the two Chiefs of Army Staff while Federal Minister for Defence was present in only 34 of these meetings (28% of the total times the Prime Minister and the COAS met).

On the other hand, the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister (before October 22, 2015, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, and then Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nasser Khan Janjua) was present in 33 of these meetings (27% of the total meetings held between the Prime Minister and the COAS). During the 26 times PM Abbasi interacted with COAS Bajwa, the Federal Minister for Defence was present in only 13 (50% of the total times the Prime Minister and COAS met) and the National Security Adviser was present in 13 (50%) of the meetings.

The NSC structure, as was originally envisaged, also included a Planning Committee and an Advisory board – to carry out the functions of an independent Secretariat. However, despite completion of 5 years, and creation of a new Federal Division, called the National Security Division, the NSC structure has not been completed.

1. After more than three months of taking oath, the PML-N Government held a meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) and decided to reconstitute the DCC into the Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS) on August 22, 2013 (78 days after the Prime Minister took oath on June 1). The CCNS met 2 times after the reconstitution of the DCC (on August 22, 2013 and December 17, 2014). The initial structure of the CCNS was announced to have Services Chiefs as full members alongside the Prime Minister in the Chair including Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior and Finance. This composition led one to comment that it may also be more appropriate if the body is renamed as the National Security Council or National Security Commission because a Cabinet Committee can only have its permanent membership from the Cabinet. PILDAT also commented in its analysis that another alternative can be that the three Services Chiefs and the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee should continue to be invited to the CCNS on special invitation rather than making them regular members of the Cabinet Committee on National Security. Perhaps in view of the above complexity, the CCNS was once again renamed as the National Security Committee in a notification issued by the National Security Division (the Secretariat of the National Security Committee), Cabinet Division on April 11, 2014. The notification declared the National Security Committee to be 'principal decision making body on national security'. 07 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

A casualty of the dormancy of NSC has been the national security agenda. A key function of the Committee was to formulate a national security policy to guide the shaping of subsidiary policies of defence, foreign, internal and others. The official goal set for the National Security Division, the Secretariat of the NSC, in 2014, was the formulation of a comprehensive National Security Policy by the National Security Committee,2 which it has failed to do in 5 years.

Policymaking in democratic and especially in the parliamentary system is strictly the domain of the elected government while it involves a host of institutions, individuals and processes but to the extent of consultation only. The NSC is a vital cog in the machinery to ensure civil-military coordination. However, terming it the sole decision-making body encroached upon the domain of the elected government and thus made NSC an anomaly limited to Pakistan, in stark contrast to international practice, and also contributed to its dormancy. Key decisions on national security were instead taken in one- on-one meetings instead of under the rubric of the NSC.

The 5 years of the functioning of the NSC has also failed to improve civil-military relations, which was to be the key objective behind the formation of a forum of consultation between the two sides. During the past 5 years, Civil-Military Relations have only worsened with large-scale allegations against the active role of military in the ouster of Mr. Nawaz Sharif and decimating the electoral mandate of the PML-N.

The incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan has held only one meeting of the National Security Committee since assuming power in August 2018. After Lt. Gen. (Retd) Nasser Khan Janjua resigned from the post of Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security in June 2018, the responsibility of National Security Division has fallen to the Prime Minister's Office and has been practically dormant since. The National Security Division's website has not been updated and the press releases by the Division have been suspended. It appears that the incumbent government has little interest in utilizing the forum to solve longstanding drifts civil-military relations. Perhaps, the reason for bypassing the NSC in favour of one-on- one interaction between the COAS and PM is that both of them currently enjoy support from each. However, civil-military relations require an on-going institutionalized effort to overcome the trust deficit which has persisted for decades.

Considering the lack of institutionalization observed in matters of national security and civil-military interactions, the existing institutional forums must be strengthened. To this end the following reforms may be considered:

1. NSC Meetings dedicated to strategic Civil-Military Issues: Civil-Military Dialogue on long term strategic issues such as Quality of Democracy; Key strategic foreign relations and long-term security perspective is extremely important to understand each others' perspective and to develop a unified national position. Since NSC meetings agenda is not made public it is not clear whether long-term strategic issues are regularly discussed at the NSC or routine operational issues and response to crisis occupy most of the NSC time, as indicated in the media reports subsequent to NSC meetings. Understanding divergent perspectives and reaching a common ground cannot be accomplished in one or a few meetings. This requires consistent, regular and long-term engagement. It is proposed that at least one meeting in a month (preferably) or two months must be dedicated to these strategic subjects alone. There may be other NSC meetings to deal with routine operational matters but one meeting each 30 or 60 days should be dedicated to strategic issues in civil-military relations. 2. Research and Planning Infrastructure at NSC: NSC meetings, especially on strategic questions, need to have high quality research input. Various Civil and Military institutions may have their own research inputs but NSC needs to have its own infrastructure to collate the available research and carry out its own original research, where needed, in order to assist NSC in informed decision-making. When the NSC (originally as Cabinet Committee on National Security) was formed back in 2014, an independent secretariat and two subsidiary bodies, the Planning Committee and an Advisory Board were also to be established along with it. It is of extreme importance that these two subsidiary bodies are functioning well in order to effectively assist the NSC. 3. Increase Frequency of Meetings: The Terms of Reference of the NSC must be amended to introduce a regular periodicity of meetings. For example, the United Kingdom's National Security Council meets weekly for almost an hour with its meetings headed by the Prime Minister. The NSC can only be made more effective if it meets regularly. 4. Rethinking the NSC Membership: Peculiar full time membership of the CJCSC and the Services Chiefs in the NSC may be rethought considering that it is the principal decision-making body in matters of national security. Lest the NSC might impinge on the powers of the Federal Cabinet (a Constitutionally created body), legislation might be considered to ensure clarity and primacy of elected political leadership and membership. 2. Memorandum on Allocation of Functions to the National Security Division, April 09, 2014, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of Pakistan 08 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

Background After more than 3 months of taking oath, the PML-N Government held the first meeting of the Defence Decision-making in matters of defence is to be a well- Committee of the Cabinet and decided to reconstitute coordinated effort between the civil and the military the DCC into the Cabinet Committee on National 7 elements in democratic countries. However, in Security (CCNS) on August 22, 2013 (78 days after the Pakistan, civilian hold over matters related to Defence Prime Minister took oath). The Defence Committee of and National Security has been minimal owing to its the Cabinet (DCC) was ineffective and also peculiar history of civil-military relations. infrequently met – only 12 times in 5 years of previous Government: 2008-2013 - and had no independent 8 Keeping in view Pakistan's complex security scenario secretariat, staff or support infrastructure. as well as its peculiar civil-military relations, scholars continued to recommend that the Defence Committee According to an official statement after the meeting, it of the Cabinet (DCC) should be reconstituted into a was announced that the CCNS will be chaired by the body that should focus on the national security agenda, Prime Minister, and will include as its members, with the aim to formulate a national security policy and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior and also fulfil a critical role of an effective channel of Finance, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee communication and serve to remove the classical gap in (CJCSC) and Chiefs of staff of the Pakistan Army, perceptions as well as communication between the Navy and Air Force. It was also stated that the political and the military leadership.3 That this critical Committee will focus on the national security agenda forum should be backed by a multi-tiered and effective with an aim to formulate a national security policy that secretariat has also been part of the key will become the guiding framework for its subsidiary recommendations in this area.4 The Forum, through its policies — defence policy, foreign policy, internal secretariat, should ensure clear, prior identification of security policy and other policies affecting the national 9 objectives, allocation of resources and monitoring of security. A formal decision was also taken to establish progress on a timely and pre-emptive basis. This, it has a permanent secretariat of the CCNS. been argued, will minimize the chances for the eruption of major crises and enable adequate capacity for rapid An ambiguity, however, was created in announcing the and effective response. full membership of the Services Chiefs in the CCNS leading to questions on how could non-cabinet Recognising the need for reconstituting the DCC into members become full membership of a Cabinet body. It an effective forum, the Pakistan Muslim League- was felt that either the body should be more Nawaz (PML-N), in its 2013 Election Manifesto,5 appropriately named as the National Security Council pledged that: “For purposes of regular and systematic or the National Security Commission or that the three coordination and consideration of all matters related to Service Chiefs and the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff national security, a Cabinet Committee on Defence and Committee should be invited to the CCNS on special 10 National Security, to be headed by the Prime Minister invitation. Perhaps in view of the above complexity, and assisted by a Permanent Secretariat, will be the CCNS was once again renamed as the National established to maintain democratic oversight of all Security Committee (NSC). In a later development, the aspects of foreign, defence and national security NSC was converted into a 'decision-making body' and policies.” 6 not a consultative forum, as it exists in other democracies. 11

3. For details, please see a number of PILDAT publications and recommendations since 2004 on reconstituting the DCC under the subject of “Civil- Military Relations and Democracy” in the Publications section of PILDAT website: www.pildat.org 4. PILDAT Recommendations that have been shared with Leadership of major political parties in September 2012 can be accessed at: http://www.pildat.org/publications/publication/CMR/PILDATRecommendationsonImprovingCMRSeptember2012.pdf 5. The PML-N Manifesto, 2013, http://www.pmln.org/manifesto/ (accessed October 24, 2018) 6. Ibid: Pages 81-82 7. The News.com, [website], 2013, Reconstitution of NSC approved, http://images.thenews.com.pk/23-08-2013/ethenews/t-24938.htm (accessed October 24, 2018) 8. PILDAT, [website], 2013, Citizens Report on Performance of Cabinet Committee on Defence March 2012-March 2013 http://www.pildat.org/Publications/publication/CMR/PerformanceoftheDefenceCommitteeoftheCabinet_Mar2012toMar2013.pdf (accessed October 24, 2018) 9. The News.com, [website], 2013, Reconstitution of NSC approved, http://images.thenews.com.pk/23-08-2013/ethenews/t-24938.htm (accessed October 24, 2018) 10. P I L D A T , M o n i t o r o n C i v i l - M i l i t a r y R e l a t i o n s : A u g u s t 0 1 – D e c e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 3 : http://www.pildat.org/publications/publication/CMR/MonitorOnCivil-MilitaryRelationsinPakistan_August012013_December152013.pdf (accessed October 24, 2018) 11. A notification issued by the National Security Division (the Secretariat of the National Security Committee), Cabinet Division on April 11, 2014 declared the National Security Committee to be 'principal decision making body on national security'. 09 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

Table 1: Composition of the National Security Committee

No. Ofﬁce Status 1 The Prime Minister Chairman 2 Minister for Defence Member 3 Minister for Finance Member 4 Minister for Foreign Affairs Member 5 Minister for Interior Member 6 Minister for Information and Broadcasting Member 7 The Prime MinisterNational Security Adviser Member 8 Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Member 9 Chief of the Army Staff Member 10 Chief of the Naval Staff Member 11 Chief of the Air Staff Member 12 Secretary, National Security Division Secretary to NSC

The real success of the forum lies in its restructuring the guidance of the NSC, to counter negative with a formal secretariat. Replacing the Defence propaganda against Pakistan and its institutions. The Committee of the Cabinet (DCC), which had no National Security Division has been given the independent secretariat, staff or support responsibility to brief the Parliament and its infrastructure,12 the new Committee was formed by Committees related to National Security issues as well creation of an independent Secretariat and two as conduct National Security related dialogues with subsidiaries, the Planning Committee and an Advisory other countries. 13 Board. The National Security Division is structured as A new division of the Government of Pakistan was following: created, namely the National Security Division, with the tasks to function as the secretariat of the National Security Committee, to convene meetings of the Committee, collect, coordinate and collate proposals and input from all relevant Ministries and organisations for the consideration of the NSC. Formulation of a comprehensive National Security Policy was also declared as one of the key functions of the National Security Division while it was charged with coordinating the implementation of strategies and policies approved by the NSC. The division has also been tasked with the formulation of strategies, under

12. PILDAT, [website], 2013, Citizens Report on Performance of Cabinet Committee on Defence: March 2012-March 2013, http://www.pildat.org/Publications/publication/CMR/PerformanceoftheDefenceCommitteeoftheCabinet_Mar2012toMar2013.pdf (accessed October 24, 2018) 13. Memorandum on Allocation of Functions to the National Security Division, April 09, 2014, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of Pakistan 10 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

Figure 1: Structure of the National Security Division

SECRETARY NATIONAL SECURITY DIVISION

ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL SECURITY SECURITY

JOINT SECURITY

SECTION OFFICER SECTION OFFICER SECTION OFFICER ACCOUNTS OFFICER

In a later official communiqué received from the National Security Division, the National Security Committee (NSC) was described as the principle decision-making body on all National Security issues, an apex forum that provides opportunity to all State institutions to provide inputs so that key National Security-related decisions are taken through collective thinking to promote the short, medium and long-term strategic interests of the country in a rapidly changing regional and global security environment.14

14. National Security Division, Government of Pakistan

11 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

Meetings of the National Security 3rd Meeting: April 17, 2014 Committee in 5 Years The third meeting of the NSC took place on April 17, 2014. Chaired by the Prime Minister, Ministers of Defence, Finance, Interior, Information, Adviser on Since its formation in 2013 until the completion of the Nation Security and Foreign Affairs, Chairman Joint term of the PML-N Government in May 2018, the NSC Chief of Staff Committee, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of met for only 23 times in five years; 9 times under the Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and other senior officials four-year stint of Mr. Nawaz Sharif as elected Prime joined the meeting.17 Minister of Pakistan, and 14 times under the ten-month Premiership of Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The NSC The Committee discussed a number of issues related to met on an average of 4.6 times in the past five years, internal and external security with long-term almost double the average of DCC during 2008-2013 implications for the country. The Prime Minister said which met a total of 12 times from 2008-2013. This that the National Security Committee is an apex forum section provides an overview of the 23 meetings held where every state institution gets an opportunity to during the past 5 years. provide inputs so that all National Security related decisions are taken through collective thinking. 18 1st Meeting: August 22, 2013 The first meeting after the PML-N Government was 4th Meeting: October 10, 2014 formed in 2013, met after more than three months on The fourth meeting took place on October 10, 2014, August 22, 2013. The Cabinet Committee on National under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister and Security (CCNC) was renamed into National Security Ministers for Interior and Information, Advisor to the Committee (NSC). Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Prime Affairs, Chiefs of Army, Naval and Air Staff and other Minister's Advisor on National Security and Foreign senior civil and military officials attended the meeting. Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee 15 The committee discussed ceasefire violations at the and the three Services Chiefs were part of the meeting. LoC, abrupt cancellation of the Foreign Secretary-level The agenda of meeting included matters relating to talks by India and their refusal to resume the dialogue national security. process, irresponsible statements by India at a political level and Pakistan's response. 2nd Meeting: December 17, 2013 The second meeting was held on December 17, 2013 5th Meeting: April 6, 2016 and was chaired by the Prime Minister and was The fifth meeting of the NSC took place after a gap of attended by Minister of Defence, Finance, Interior, eighteen months on April 6, 2016 and was chaired by Information, Advisor on National Security and Foreign Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.19 The meeting was Affairs, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee, briefed on the steps being taken for national security in Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air 16 the country and expressed satisfaction over Staff and other senior officials. counterterrorism efforts of the security institutions, which have drawn wide and broad appreciation from The discussions at the Committee meeting focused on the international leadership. The meeting also three critical issues: formulation of strategy on security discussed at length, the deliberations at the recently to safeguard Pakistan's national interest, engaging TTP held Nuclear Security Summit and expressed and relations with Afghanistan. The Committee satisfaction over international acknowledgement of the reaffirmed Government's commitment to negotiations safety and security standards of Pakistan's nuclear with various groups of TTP and agreed that the use of security regime and the National Command Authority. other options would be considered only as a last resort. The meeting also expressed concern over the apparent role of hostile agencies in Pakistan. The Armed Forces

15. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan [website], 2013,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=88 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 16. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan [website], 2013,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=282 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 17. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2014,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=438 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 18. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2014,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=631 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 19. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2016,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=1411 (accessed on July 27, 2018)

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Development Programme including the procurement unparalleled sacrifices and successes. The sacrifices of of F-16 fighter jets from the USA was also discussed. security forces, Law Enforcement Agencies and the national resolve in fighting the scourge of terrorism 6th Meeting: July 22, 2016 was acknowledged and appreciated during the meeting. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the sixth meeting of the National Security Committee on July 22, 2016. 10th Meeting: August 16, 2017 The committee discussed the situation in IOK, after the Tenth NSC meeting took place after one month and martyrdom of Burhan Wani and resolved that Pakistan nine days of the previous meeting on August 16, 2017 will approach Human Rights Council of the United and was chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Nations. The committee lauded Zarb-e-Azab and Abbasi. The meeting was attended by Ministers for decided to introduce effective border management Defence, Finance, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Chairman system between Pakistan and Afghanistan20 Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chiefs of of Army, Navy and Air Staff. 24 7th Meeting: May 31, 2017 The seventh meeting of the committee took place on The meeting reviewed both internal and external May 31, 2017, after a gap of ten months. With PM security situation and the foreign policy imperatives in Nawaz in the chair, NSC was joined by Ministers of the regional and global context and expressed grave Defence, Finance, Interior, Planning & Development, concern over frequent incidents of cross-border firing Foreign Affairs and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff by Indian forces over the Line of Control and strongly Committee, Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Staff. 21 condemned the grave violations of human rights The committee discussed the overall security situation, inflicted upon innocent people of Indian occupied especially eastern and western border, Operation Radd Jammu and Kashmir. The NSC unanimously expressed ul Fasaad and Security for CPEC projects. satisfaction over the gains of anti-terrorism operations particularly Radd-ul-Fasaad and Khyber-4 and 8th Meeting: June 7, 2017 resolved to continue with these operations till The eighth meeting took place after six days of the elimination of the last trace of terrorist elements. NSC previous session. Chaired by PM Nawaz, the meeting lauded the zeal, fervour, and unity demonstrated by the was attended by Minister for Defence, Finance, entire nation during the ongoing 70th Independence Interior, Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs, Chairman Day celebrations. Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Staff. 22 The forum strongly condemned 11th Meeting: August 24, 2017 the incident of terrorism in Kabul and resolved to Eleventh NSC meeting took place after eight days of remain steadfast and resolute in support of Afghan the previous meeting on August 24, 2017 and was people. chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and attended by Minister for Defence, Finance, Foreign 9th Meeting: July 7, 2017 Affairs and Interior alongside Chairman JCSC and The ninth meeting took place after one month of the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Staff.25 previous meeting on July 7, 2017 and was joined by Ministers for Defence, Finance, Interior, Adviser to PM The NSC discussed the Trump Administration's South on Foreign Affairs, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Asia Strategy and out rightly rejected the specific Committee and Chief of Army, Navy and Air Staff, allegations and insinuations made against Pakistan. under the chairmanship of the Premier.23 Matters The committee stressed that instead of any financial or pertaining to national security, foreign policy in the material assistance, there should be understanding and regional and global context were discussed during the recognition of our efforts, contributions, and sacrifice meeting. It was reiterated that Pakistan has acted as a of thousands of Pakistanis and over 120 billion US frontline state in global counterterrorism efforts with dollars of economic losses. The Committee reaffirmed 20. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2016,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=1466 (as accessed on July 27, 2018) 21. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2017, http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=1818 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 22. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2017,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=1821 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 23. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2017,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=1841 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 24. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2017,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=1916 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 25. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2017,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=1940 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 13 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

Pakistan's resolve to protect its sovereignty and meeting.28 The NSC condemned attacks on the territorial integrity. Pakistan Army post at Bajaur Agency and police officials in Quetta and expressed grave concern over 12th Meeting: August 30, 2017 the now increasingly exposed activities of hostile The twelfth NSC meeting took place after six days of intelligence agencies to destabilise Pakistan. The the previous meeting on August 30, 2017. With PM Committee reviewed the security situation in Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair, members including Balochistan and appreciated the significant Ministers for Defence, Finance, Foreign Affairs, improvement brought through the tireless work by the Interior, Chairman JCSC and Chiefs of Army, Navy and Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies. The Air Staff were part of the meeting.26 Committee also reviewed the status of regional gas and oil pipelines under consideration from the perspective The Committee reviewed the internal and external of strengthening Pakistan's energy security and agreed security situation and the threats and challenges to that Pakistan should take advantage of the national security in the evolving regional and global opportunities available where they are in Pakistan's context. The Trump policy on South Asia was also best economic and national interest. discussed. The Committee decided to keep a robust defence posture to ensure national security in a 15th Meeting: December 18, 2017 challenging environment. Fifteenth NSC meeting took place on December 18, 2017 under chairmanship of PM Shahid Khaqan 13th Meeting: September 29, 2017 Abbasi and was joined by Ministers for Interior, Thirteenth NSC meeting took place after thirty days of National Security Advisor, Chairman JCSC, three the previous meeting on September 29, 2017 and was Services Chiefs and other senior civil and military chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and attended by officials.29 The Committee condemned the terrorist Ministers for Finance, Foreign Affairs, Chairman attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in JCSC, all three Services' Chiefs and senior civil and Quetta terming it to be against the fundamental tenets military officials.27 of peace and tolerance taught by Islam. The National Security Committee reviewed the rapidly evolving The Committee expressed grave concern over repeated security situation in the Middle East as well as the latest violations of the line of control by India, resulting in developments in Pakistan's relations with the GCC loss of innocent lives owing to shelling and firing States and Iran. The Committee also observed that as a across the line of control. The Committee also responsible member of the International community, condemned the violation of human rights in the Indian Pakistan would continue to fulfil its obligations under occupied Kashmir and the use of excessive force the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) framework, against unarmed civilians. The Committee was briefed which would be shared in due course with the FATF. that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister had engaged the leadership of several important countries 16th Meeting: January 3, 2018 to share Pakistan's perspective on regional and global The sixteenth meeting of the NSC took place on security challenges. The Committee expressed its January 3, 2018 and was chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan unwavering resolve to keep Pakistan's defence Abbasi. Members joining the meeting were Ministers impregnable against all forms of external aggression of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Defence alongside Chairman JCSC, three Services Chiefs. PM's Adviser 14th Meeting: November 15, 2017 on Finance and National Security and Pakistan's The fourteenth meeting took place after forty-six of the Ambassador to the US and other senior civil and previous meeting on November 15, 2017, headed by military officials were also part of the meeting.30 The PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Ministers for Interior, meeting was held to review the emerging strategic Foreign Affairs, Chairman JCSC, 3 Services Chiefs and situation in the region and beyond. The body expressed senior civil and military officials attended the deep disappointment with some of the recent

26. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2017,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=1952 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 27. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2017, http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2011 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 28. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2017,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2087 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 29. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2017,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2123 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 30. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan [website], 2018,https://www.dawn.com/news/1380454/civil-military-brass-wont-react- in-haste-to-trump-tweet (accessed on July 27, 2018) 14 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

statements from the US leadership, and observed that 19th Meeting: April 4, 2018 close interaction with the Trump administration The nineteenth meeting took place on April 4, 2018 and following the initial pronouncement of his policy on was chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and South Asia had been used for creating a better attended by Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Interior, understanding of each other's perspectives on the best Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Chairman way to achieve durable peace and stability in JCSC, Services Chiefs, and National Security Afghanistan. Adviser.33 The NSC praised the extraordinary courage and resilience of Kashmiri people in the face of Indian 17th Meeting: February 2, 2018 brutalities, gross and systematic violations of all their Seventeenth meeting of the NSC took place on human rights and reiterated Pakistan's commitment to February 2, 2018. Chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan political, diplomatic and moral support for the people Abbasi, meeting was attended by Ministers of Foreign of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just Affair, Interior, Chairman JCSC, Services Chiefs and and legitimate struggle for their right to self- PM Advisor on National Security.31 The NSC strongly determination, also promised to them by the unanimous condemned terrorist attacks in Kabul and observed that resolutions of the UN Security Council. the Afghan government based its reaction on misconceptions created by certain foreign elements. 20th Meeting: May 2, 2018 The Committee expressed the resolve to forge ahead, The twentieth NSC meeting took place on May 2, 2018 despite difficulties, with positive engagement with and was chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Afghanistan, including the already planned visit of the attended by Minister for Interior, Advisor for Finance Pakistani delegation to Kabul for discussions on and National Security, Chairman JCSC and Services.34 Pakistan's proposed “Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Solidarity. The National Security Committee The Committee condemned the terrorist attacks in reviewed the actions taken by the Government of Afghanistan and observed that the people of Pakistan Pakistan and Provincial Governments to fulfil the shared the pain of their Afghan brethren and stood by country's international responsibilities under the them in complete solidarity in this hour of grief. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) framework. Committee directed the Water Resources Division to forcefully pursue the violations of the Indus Water 18th Meeting: February 27, 2018 Treaty by India with the World Bank. The Committee Eighteenth NSC Meeting took place on February 27, reviewed the proposed administrative reforms package 2018 under chairmanship of PM Shahid Khaqan for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and Abbasi and joined by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, directed that while finalising the recommendations, it Defence, Interior, Advisor to the Prime Minister on shall be ensured that the new arrangements are in Finance, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee complete harmony with the aspirations of the people of and the three Services Chiefs.32 Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Committee was briefed on international and 21st Meeting: May 14, 2018 regional situation particularly on relations with The 21st meeting of NSC took place on May 14, 2018. regional countries. The Foreign Minister briefed the Chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the meeting Committee on his recent successful visit to Russia and was joined by Ministers for Defence, Foreign Affairs, recalled the desire of the two countries to strengthen Advisors for Finance and National Security, Chairman bilateral relations in all areas further. The Committee JCSC and Services Chiefs.35 also reiterated the significance of CPEC and the benefits it brings to the development of Pakistan, the On May 12, 2018, Dawn had published an interview region and beyond. with ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif titled 'For Nawaz, it's not over till it's over', in which he was

31. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2018,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2193 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 32. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2018,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2213 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 33. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2018,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2254 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 34. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2018,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2287 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 35. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2018,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2298 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 15 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

quoted as saying that “Militant Organisations are The committee condemned the reign of terror active… Should we allow them to cross border and kill unleashed by Indian occupation forces on innocent 150 people in Mumbai?.. It is absolutely unacceptable; Kashmiris and resolved that Pakistan would continue … Why can't we complete the trial,” referring to the to play its role in realising the right of the people of Mumbai attacks-related trials which have stalled in a Kashmir to self-determination. The Committee also Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court. On May 13, DG ISPR condemned the brutal repression of the Palestinians by had tweeted that “NSC meeting suggested to Prime the Israeli state and reaffirmed Pakistan's support for Minister to discuss recent misleading media statement the people of Palestine in their just cause. The NSC regarding Bombay incident. Being held tomorrow expressed satisfaction over the transformational morning.”36 reforms introduced by the Government with regards to FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Committee observed The statement by the PMO stated that the meeting that it must also be ensured that all supportive systems, “reviewed the recent statement in the context of databases, and verification networks are in place and Mumbai attacks, as it appeared in the Daily Dawn of fully operational, in view of which it was agreed that 12th May 2018, and unanimously termed this statement the 'visa on arrival' facility should be initiated as a pilot as incorrect and misleading. The participants observed project in the first instance. that it was very unfortunate that the opinion arising out of either misconceptions or grievances was being presented in disregard of concrete facts and realities. The participants unanimously rejected the allegations and condemned the fallacious assertions. The meeting recalled that it was not Pakistan, but India that has delayed the finalisation of the case. Besides many other refusals during the investigation, the denial of access to the principal accused, Ajmal Qasab, and his extraordinarily hurried execution became the core impediment in the finalisation of the trial. At the same time Pakistan continues to wait for cooperation from India on the infamous Kulbhushan Jadhav and Samjhota Express episodes.”

22nd Meeting: May 19, 2018 The twenty-second NSC meeting took place on May 19, 2018 and was chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and joined by Ministers for Interior and Foreign Affairs Advisor on Finance, Chairman JCSC and Services Chiefs.37

The Committee endorsed that FATA shall be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with the introduction of the administrative and judicial institutional structures and laws of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

23rd Meeting: May 29, 2018 The twenty-third meeting of the NSC took place on May 29, 2018 and was chaired by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and joined by Ministers for Interior, Defence & Foreign Affairs, Advisor on Finance and National Security and three Services Chiefs.38

36. Twitter.com, [website], 2018, @OfficialDGISPR https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/995668214561505281 (accessed October 23, 2018) 37. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2018,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2305 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 38. Prime Minister's Office, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, [website], 2018,http://pmo.gov.pk/press_release_detailes.php?pr_id=2316 (accessed on July 27, 2018) 16 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

Analysis of 5-Year Performance of the NSC A comparison between performance of NSC with its predecessor Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) During the five-year tenure (2013-2018) of the PML- from 2008-2013 shows that the DCC was mostly N, while the NSC formation can be termed as a inactive and met a total of 12 times in 5 years or with the welcome step, the NSC remained mostly dormant and average of 2.4 meetings a year. While Prime Minister met for only 23 times in 5 years with an average of 4.6 Sharif formed the NSC with an independent Secretariat meetings per year. Out of these 23 meetings, 9 meetings in the form of National Security Division while the were held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister DCC had worked without an independent secretariat, Nawaz Sharif – or an average of 2.25 meetings per year staff or support infrastructure, under his premiership or almost one meeting every five months on the lasting 4 years from 2013-2017, the NSC could barely average. In comparison, 14 meetings were held under keep the periodicity of 2.25 meetings a year, below the the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan average of the DCC under the PPP Government of Abbasi under his ten-month tenure, bringing the 2008-2013. average periodicity of one and a half month, a clear improvement over the periodicity of meetings under the premiership of his leader and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Figure 2: Number of NSC Meetings in 5 Years: 2013-2018

16 14 14 12 10 9 Nawaz Sharif (June 2013- 8 July 2017) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi 6 (August 2017-May 2018) 4 2 0 Figure 3: Year-wise Meetings of the NSC: 2013-2018

Year-wise meetings of the NSC ( 2013-2018) 15 14 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

17 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

While the NSC discussed a number of national security years in office. Similarly, Prime Minister Shahid issues, analysis of the meetings of the NSC, as reported Khaqan Abbasi met COAS Bajwa 26 times while only in the media, shows that the committee mostly resorted 14 NSC meetings were held under his tenure of 10 to responding to issues and crises as opposed to a months. It needs to be noted that out of the total of proactive role. It is perhaps due to this reason that Premier-COAS interactions, 35 of these meetings (i.e., formulation a comprehensive National Security Policy, 29% of the total times they met) were one-on-one a stated goal behind creation of the NSC in 2013, interactions between the Prime Minister Sharif and the remained unfulfilled during 5 years of the PML-N two Chiefs of Army Staff while the Minister for Government under both elected Premiers. Defence was present in only 34 of these meetings (28% of the total times the Prime Minister and the COAS While the NSC brought the elected civilian leadership met). On the other hand, the National Security Advisor together with the military leadership in an institutional to the Prime Minister (before October 22, 2015, Mr. setting, it failed to bring about the required Sartaj Aziz, and then Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nasser Khan synchronisation in matters of statecraft between the Janjua) was present in 33 of these meetings (27% of the two sides. Instead of the expected improvement, total meetings held between the Prime Minister and the designed to be achieved, through institutionalisation of COAS). During the 26 times PM Abbasi interacted consultation on national security issues, Civil-Military with COAS Bajwa, the Federal Minister for Defence relations only worsened during the 5 years period. was present in only 13 (50% of the total times the Prime Minister and COAS met) and the National Security Differences in stances continued to be made public Adviser was present in 13 (50%) of the meetings. with open spats witnessed through the 5-year period on issues such as the trial of former COAS Musharraf, Out of all the National Security Committee meetings Opposition Dharnas largely believed to be engineered, during the period under review, there is no evidence to implementation of the National Action Plan, Dawn suggest that issues which constitute major civil- Leaks, extension to Gen. Raheel Sharif and support to military divide were brought to the table or if the the ouster of Mr. Nawaz Sharif and decimation of the meetings discussed irritants or issues that cause lack of electoral mandate of the PML-N in 2018 General trust between the two sides. Is it because the political Election. leadership has not seriously addressed these problems, as is the perception or the military is unwilling to While both sides continued the mantra of being on the negotiate its control over these areas? same page, the divide between them could not be starker during these 5 years. Mr. Nawaz Sharif was The desired goal of improving civil-military relations disqualified from holding public office on July 28, through the institutionalisation of forums of 2017, four years into his tenure by the Supreme Court consultation, therefore, could only go so far. Which is under Article 62(1)f for failing to declare un-withdrawn perhaps why the Defence Minister of the time, Engr. receivable income from a Dubai firm.39 Pakistan's Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA, had publicly stated, political history once again saw an elected Prime “Defence Minister is merely a facilitator at best and Minister unable to complete his tenure. most of the time even marginalised at that while Prime Minister directly deals with leadership of the Armed Is it because the NSC was dormant or because in the Forces.”40 In conversation with Mr. Saleem Safi in his ground realities of military interference in political televised talk show Jirga on Geo TV on December 30, affairs, no institutional mechanism can achieve the goal 2017, the then Defence Minister said, “We [PML-N] of harmony and bridge the gap in perceptions? have learnt that individually good relations between Services Chiefs and PM do not solve issues in civil- Let us, for instance, compare the meetings of the NSC military relations. There have to be good inter- with one-on-one and interactions between Prime institutional relations. ” He further said, “Mr. Nawaz Ministers and Chiefs of Army Staff during these 5 Sharif felt that merely winning the next election would years. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met COAS Raheel be meaningless unless “awam ka haq-i-hakmiat” or Sharif 106 times and COAS Bajwa 13 times while only the people's right to rule was not established and 9 meetings of the NSC were held under his stint of 4 accepted.”41

39. Dawn.com, [website], 2017, Nawaz Sharif steps down as PM after SC's disqualification verdict, https://www.dawn.com/news/1348191 (accessed on September 28, 2018) 40. Youtube.com, [website], 2017, Jirga-30-December-2017, https://youtu.be/lJPxVD-SF9A (accessed October 24, 2018)

18 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

PILDAT believes that during the period under review, the NSC has not been fully utilized to bring the civil- military leadership on the same page. It is hoped that the new government would learn from its predecessor and prioritize meetings of the National Security Committee over one-on-one interactions.

The PTI, unlike its counterpart parties, namely the PML-N and the PPP, has formed the Federal Government for the first time in Pakistan. The 'change' builds hope that the leadership will steer the country towards a Constitutional equation of civil-military relations through institutionalisation of relationship. Mr Imran Khan's predecessor, Mr Nawaz Sharif, shied away from holding NSC meetings regularly during his tenure and opted for one-on-one meetings with the COAS instead. One-on-one meetings to decide matters of National Security undermine the efficacy of the NSC and project an image of a ceremonial committee, which is antithetical to its purpose.

With Mr Khan's rise to the top, Pakistan has, perhaps after a long time, elected a political party to power which does not carry the baggage of strained relations with the military in the past. Mr. Khan has since chaired his security briefings, which were co-chaired by PM- COAS in the past and has been called as chief guest to the Defence Day ceremony at GHQ, a role traditionally given to the Army Chief.

The incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan has held only one meeting of the National Security Committee since assuming power in August 2018. After Lt. Gen. (Retd) Nasser Khan Janjua resigned in June 2018, the responsibility of National Security Division has fallen to the Prime Minister's Office and has been practically dormant since. It appears that the incumbent government has little interest in utilizing the forum to solve longstanding drifts civil-military relations. Perhaps, the reason for bypassing the NSC in favor of one-on-one interaction between the COAS and PM is that both of them currently enjoy support from each. However, civil-military relations require an on-going institutionalized effort to overcome the trust deficit, which has persisted for decades.

19 P I L D AT Performance of the National Security Committee 2013 - 2018

Conclusions 4. Research and Planning Infrastructure at NSC: NSC meetings, especially on strategic In April 2018, PILDAT prepared a set of questions, need to have high-quality research recommendations for Political Parties on establishing input. Various Civil and Military institutions democratic oversight on defence and national security. may have their own research inputs, but NSC In the light of the current circumstances, the following needs to have its own infrastructure to collate are set of recommendations concerning National the available research and carry out its own Security Committee by PILDAT. original research, where needed, in order to assist NSC in formulating informed 1. Now that a National Security Committee is in recommendations. When the NSC (originally existence with the National Security Division as Cabinet Committee on National Security) as its secretariat, it is important that a was formed back in 2014, an independent periodicity must be set for the meetings of the secretariat and two subsidiary bodies, the Committee. Minimum essential periodicity Planning Committee, and an Advisory Board should monthly or twelve times a year. were also to be established along with it. It Similar bodies in other countries meet on a would be in the best interest of the country to weekly basis chaired by the Prime Ministers. effectively operationalize them to assist the NSC. 2. Consultative and Not Decision-Making Body: The NSC provides a critical forum of 5. A dedicated think tank comprising eminent consultation on national security issues, as national security experts from the field of well as an opportunity to bridge the perception defence, economic security, human security, gaps between civil and the military. PILDAT energy security, food security, cyber security believes that the NSC is a critical forum for etc. must be set-up to support the work of the consultation on national security issues. Committee. A multi-tier approach may also be Terming it, as its rules do since its creation in useful to include the private sector in the 2013, as 'the principal decision-making body consultative process. on matters of national security,' encroaches upon the powers of the Federal Cabinet. 6. The secretariat of the NSC should also set up a PILDAT also maintains that the model of coordination and oversight mechanism for the Pakistan's NSC is an anomaly in terms of its intelligence agencies in the country. “decision-making” role as similar bodies working around the world such as in the US, 7. The NSC must prepare a National Security UK and India, are only consultative and in an Policy and Strategy of Pakistan to be advisory role. . approved the Federal Cabinet.

3. NSC Meetings dedicated to strategic Civil- 8. The Terms of Reference (TORs) of the NSC Military Issues: Civil-Military Dialogue on should focus on the national security agenda, long-term strategic issues like the Key with an aim to formulate a national security strategic foreign relations and long-term policy that will become the guiding security perspective is crucial to understand framework for its subsidiary policies - each other's perspective and to develop a Defence policy, foreign policy, economic unified national position. Understanding policy, and a comprehensive Counter- divergent perspectives and reaching a Terrorism strategy. common ground cannot be accomplished in one or a few meetings. This requires 9. The NSC should develop and make available c o n s i s t e n t , r e g u l a r a n d l o n g - t e r m for public or selective discussion a periodic engagement. At least one meeting in a month Defence and Security Review of Pakistan (preferably) or two months should be based on the National Security and Defence dedicated to these strategic subjects alone. Policy of Pakistan. There may be other NSC meetings to deal with routine operational matters but one meeting every 30 or 60 days should be devoted to strategic civil-military issues like internal security and foreign policy.

20 Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency