National Security Council (Pakistan)

National Security Council
قومی سلامتی مجلس
Agency overview
FormedMarch 25, 1969; 55 years ago (1969-03-25)[1]
HeadquartersPrime Minister's Office
Agency executives
Parent agencyPrime Minister's Office

The National Security Council (Urdu: قومی سلامتی مجلس) (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-President and former General Pervez Musharraf in April 2004 under the National Security Council Act. Although, the NSC remains to as a statutory body, the National Security Council is not active since 2008, and the Cabinet Committee on National Security is fulfilling the role and purpose of the NSC.[2] The first National Security Adviser was Tariq Aziz who was appointed in 2004 and was preceded by Major-General (retired) Mahmud Durrani in 2008.[2] Since Durrani's deposing by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani in 2009, there has been no appointed new NSC adviser since then.[2] The NSC was abandoned by the government of 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 India and Pakistan, or a chance to discuss events related to the insurgency.[3][4]

  1. ^ a b c PILDT. "The Evolution of National Security Council in Pakistan". Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency. PILDT. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  2. ^ a b c 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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Crucial National Security Committee meeting begins". Archived from the original on 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2014-10-10.