Reconstitution of NSC approved
August 23, 2013
ISLAMABAD: The much-awaited meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) on Thursday decided to revive the National Security Committee (NSC) and reconstitute the DCC into the Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS). It also made a conditional peace offer to the militants that a dialogue would only be held if they disarmed, otherwise force would be used against them.
The Cabinet’s Defence Committee met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair and was attended by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the three services chiefs.
The meeting also decided to revive the defunct National Security Council to deal with the security challenges being faced by the country. This was the first DCC meeting since the new government took office in June 2013. The agenda included matters relating to national security.
In his opening remarks, the prime minister highlighted that Pakistan was facing formidable challenges domestically while far-reaching developments were taking place in the region. The DCC provided the platform to deliberate on these issues and craft an appropriate response.
Presentations were made by the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, foreign secretary and Director General Military Operations (DGMO).
During the meeting, the reconstitution of the DCC into the Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS) was approved. The CCNS will be chaired by the prime minister and will include ministers of foreign affairs, defence, interior and finance, the CJCSC and chiefs of staff of Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. The committee will focus on the national security agenda with an aim to formulate a national security policy that will become the guiding framework for its subsidiary policies — defence policy, foreign policy, internal security policy and other policies affecting the national security.
In the context of regional peace and stability, the DCC deliberated in detail on the evolving situation in Afghanistan. It was emphasised that a peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s vital interest and would contribute positively to peace and security as well as progress and prosperity in the region. Pakistan will fully support the international community’s efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Pakistan will also work to comprehensively upgrade its bilateral relations with Afghanistan in all dimensions.
The DCC received a briefing on the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and took note of the continued violations of the ceasefire. Pakistan’s policy of restraint and responsibility was highlighted. The committee condemned in the strongest terms the unprovoked firing in the Shaqma sector which resulted in the martyrdom of Army Captain Sarfraz and offered Fateha for the martyred captain. It was strongly emphasised that the ceasefire should be maintained in letter and spirit. All military and diplomatic channels should be used to prevent ceasefire violations. It was emphasised that Pakistan will also continue to seek a dialogue and resolution of all outstanding issues with India peacefully.
The CCNS would be the new nomenclature of the National Security Council (NSC), which had functioned during the era of General Pervez Musharraf.
The need for the CCNS was felt as Pakistan is faced with a host of security issues, from defence to internal security, and socio-political to economic involving internal and external players. It was being felt that no single individual, institution or stakeholder can handle the wide-ranging security issues facing the state.
Recognising that consultative process always pays the democratic states to take the right kind of decisions at right time, it was thought that the CCNS is an appropriate forum for the purpose.
The decision taken by the government to establish the CCNS is a leap towards democratic transformation of Pakistan. The idea of formation of the National Security Council was conceived in 1969 and it remained in place till 1971. Later, former President Pervez Musharraf also formed the NSC that worked between 2004 till 2008.
However, it is for the first time that a democratic government itself has taken up the case to involve all stakeholders in the consultative national process from the forum of NSC. Decisions from the forum of NSC would greatly support the democratic government because of prior input and institutional agreement of all stakeholders and remove any misunderstanding between the elected government and the establishment.
Political and military observers believe that the CCNS would lend legitimacy and approval to the national decisions, both at home and abroad, and would ensure security against traditional and non-traditional challenges and would serve well in the interest of civil-military relations. —INP
The Cabinet’s Defence Committee met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair and was attended by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the three services chiefs.
The meeting also decided to revive the defunct National Security Council to deal with the security challenges being faced by the country. This was the first DCC meeting since the new government took office in June 2013. The agenda included matters relating to national security.
In his opening remarks, the prime minister highlighted that Pakistan was facing formidable challenges domestically while far-reaching developments were taking place in the region. The DCC provided the platform to deliberate on these issues and craft an appropriate response.
Presentations were made by the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, foreign secretary and Director General Military Operations (DGMO).
During the meeting, the reconstitution of the DCC into the Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS) was approved. The CCNS will be chaired by the prime minister and will include ministers of foreign affairs, defence, interior and finance, the CJCSC and chiefs of staff of Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. The committee will focus on the national security agenda with an aim to formulate a national security policy that will become the guiding framework for its subsidiary policies — defence policy, foreign policy, internal security policy and other policies affecting the national security.
In the context of regional peace and stability, the DCC deliberated in detail on the evolving situation in Afghanistan. It was emphasised that a peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s vital interest and would contribute positively to peace and security as well as progress and prosperity in the region. Pakistan will fully support the international community’s efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Pakistan will also work to comprehensively upgrade its bilateral relations with Afghanistan in all dimensions.
The DCC received a briefing on the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and took note of the continued violations of the ceasefire. Pakistan’s policy of restraint and responsibility was highlighted. The committee condemned in the strongest terms the unprovoked firing in the Shaqma sector which resulted in the martyrdom of Army Captain Sarfraz and offered Fateha for the martyred captain. It was strongly emphasised that the ceasefire should be maintained in letter and spirit. All military and diplomatic channels should be used to prevent ceasefire violations. It was emphasised that Pakistan will also continue to seek a dialogue and resolution of all outstanding issues with India peacefully.
The CCNS would be the new nomenclature of the National Security Council (NSC), which had functioned during the era of General Pervez Musharraf.
The need for the CCNS was felt as Pakistan is faced with a host of security issues, from defence to internal security, and socio-political to economic involving internal and external players. It was being felt that no single individual, institution or stakeholder can handle the wide-ranging security issues facing the state.
Recognising that consultative process always pays the democratic states to take the right kind of decisions at right time, it was thought that the CCNS is an appropriate forum for the purpose.
The decision taken by the government to establish the CCNS is a leap towards democratic transformation of Pakistan. The idea of formation of the National Security Council was conceived in 1969 and it remained in place till 1971. Later, former President Pervez Musharraf also formed the NSC that worked between 2004 till 2008.
However, it is for the first time that a democratic government itself has taken up the case to involve all stakeholders in the consultative national process from the forum of NSC. Decisions from the forum of NSC would greatly support the democratic government because of prior input and institutional agreement of all stakeholders and remove any misunderstanding between the elected government and the establishment.
Political and military observers believe that the CCNS would lend legitimacy and approval to the national decisions, both at home and abroad, and would ensure security against traditional and non-traditional challenges and would serve well in the interest of civil-military relations. —INP
