Govt revamps panel on national security
The government on Wednesday reconstituted the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and appointed former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Alok Joshi as its chairman, people familiar with the matter said.
The move comes even as India works towards a targeted military response to the Pakistan-sponsored terror strikes in Pahalgam , Kashmir, last week, the people added.
Other members in the revamped NSAB include former western air commander Air Marshal PM Sinha, former southern army commander Lt Gen A K Singh and Rear Admiral (retd) Monty Khanna. Two retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officers , Manmohan Singh and Rajiv Ranjan Verma and a retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, B Venkatesh Verma also have been included in the new board, the people cited above said.
First constituted by the government in 1998, NSAB is a multi-disciplinary body comprising eminent professionals, academics, scientists, administrative experts and retired bureaucrats. Its principal function is to undertake long term analysis and to provide perspectives on national security issues to the National Security Council (NSC) and to recommend measures or solutions and policy options on the issues referred by the NSC to it.
Besides NSAB, there are two other key bodies under NSC – Strategic Policy Group (SPG) and Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) -- which assist and provide expertise to the national security council secretariat (NSCS) for integrated thinking and coordinated application of resources for promoting national security goals.
An officer familiar with the reconstitution of the NSAB said this was done because the tenure of the existing board ended. NSAB members are appointed for a term of two years.
' NSAB will review the national security situation, particularly in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack as well as analyse related issues like continuing cross-border terrorism and give recommendations as to how to deal with such situations,' said one of the people cited above
'The reports, assessments and policy recommendations prepared by the NSAB are sent to the National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval, on a regular basis and then it is fed to the National Security Council (NSC)/Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS),' said a second person, adding that the specifics of NSAB's work cannot be divulged in the national interest.
The restructuring of NSAB comes in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, all men, 25 of whom were tourists and 24, Hindu, were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
In a high-level security meeting at his residence on Tuesday, Modi reaffirmed India's resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism and underlined that the armed forces have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of the Pahalgam attack.
India is currently weighing military operations to target Pakistan after the April 22 terror attack and tensions have spiraled along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).
NSAB never had a fixed number of members, and the government has not shared any other names or order or notification regarding the members.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Indian Express
After MP's ‘demand', Pune's Sarasbaug Garden closed by civic body
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Sunday kept the famous Sarasbaug garden in the heart of the city closed for the day, allegedly on the demand of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni, who cited that Bakri Eid celebrations in the garden would disturb the sanctity of a historical temple in the centre of garden. The PMC administration had closed the gate of Sarasbaug garden with a board on display saying the garden was closed for the day and eating food was not allowed here. The civic administration did not respond to calls seeking reasons for the garden's closure. In a communication to PMC on June 6, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kulkarni said, 'There is a Peshwa-era Ganesh temple in Sarasbaug and is a place of worship for lakhs of Hindu people. The garden is situated around the temple. It has been observed that people of Muslim community turn up in large numbers in Sarasbaug Garden and consume meat by violating garden rules. This hurts sentiments of Hindu community.' Various Hindu organisations have become aggressive towards the consumption of meat in the garden, she said, adding that they too had decided to hold a social event at Sarasbaug on June 8. 'There is a possibility of communal tension between the two communities if they come face to face. There seem to be truth in complaint by Hindu organisations as many people of the Muslim community come together and consume meat, which is spoiling the sanctity of temple. This can't be tolerated,' said Kulkarni. The BJP MP said, 'The PMC should keep the garden closed on Sunday and only allow temple visitors through the gate. This should be done to avoid any untoward incident that would disturb the peace. However, the temple should be kept open for the Hindu community.' Activist Anwar Sheikh has sought an explanation from the PMC on the exact reason why Sarasbaug Garden was closed. 'The decision to close Sarasbaug on the demand of an MP has violated the rights of the Muslim community. The PMC's decision to close the garden on the occasion of Bakri Eid is against the fundamental right of people of the Muslim community. If the people of the muslim community are paying tax to the PMC, then they have the right to use public spaces like gardens and parks. Keeping them out due to the demand of an MP goes against the values of democracy,' he said. He said that Muslims take their families to the garden the day after Eid to celebrate, but this year, Sarasbaug Garden was kept closed without giving any reason. Sheikh has urged the PMC to not take such decisions in future to avoid hurting feelings of any religious community, protect the rights of Muslims and not to fall prey to the pressure of elected representatives. 'The incident is sending a message that it was done to target only people of one community,' he said.
NDTV
40 minutes ago
- NDTV
How China Has Been Blocking India's UNSC Actions Since The 2000s
In the India-Pakistan strategic dynamic, China has emerged as an inextricable third actor, turning a bilateral rivalry into a triangular matter. While military escalation in the subcontinent does not align with Beijing's strategic interests, its pro-Pakistan leanings often manifest on international platforms. Most recently, China blocked the designation of The Resistance Front (TRF), an alleged offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), following the 2025 Pahalgam attack. This move reflects a longstanding pattern: China has consistently complicated New Delhi's diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan-based groups in global forums. As India seeks broader consensus on counterterrorism designations, particularly at the UN Security Council (UNSC), China has frequently intervened by blocking or delaying the listing of individuals affiliated with anti-India groups such as LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). A 'technical hold' in the UNSC sanctions process allows a member state to indefinitely delay designation without a formal veto. For decades, China has exploited this to delay, if not deny, sanctions on Pakistan-linked terror architecture without triggering a diplomatic confrontation. The symbolic framing of China-Pakistan relations, famously described by former Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani as 'higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, stronger than steel, and sweeter than honey", for now has translated into sustained strategic cover for Pakistan on the international stage. Chinese media's description of terrorism in India, such as the Pahalgam attack, as a case of 'shooting' by local gunmen against civilians, further supports the Pakistani narrative of the conflict. 'Technical Holds' China's pattern of using 'technical holds' in the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee can be traced to the early 2000s. After the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, India began pushing for international sanctions against Pakistan-based outfits. While China supported the designation of groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks, it remained reluctant to target individuals associated with these anti-India groups, most notably JeM chief Masood Azhar, who was finally listed in 2019. India's first formal request to enlist Azhar came in 2009, following the Mumbai attacks and was followed up in 2016, 2017, and 2019. While international pressure eventually influenced this reversal after two decades, the exclusion of any reference to the Pulwama attack in the final listing allowed China to maintain that Azhar's designation was based on his long-standing links to terrorism rather than a specific attack on India. Over time, the Pathankot attack of 2016 and the Pulwama suicide bombing in 2019 resulted in intensified Indian diplomatic efforts targeting Pakistan-based terrorist leaders and groups. All efforts were impeded by China's technical holds, despite co-sponsorship by France, the UK, and the US. At large, this trend continues. In 2023, Beijing blocked a joint India-US proposal to list Abdul Rauf Asghar and other anti-India terrorists. Double Standards This stands in contradiction to China's own counterterrorism posture against separatist and Islamist groups that threaten Chinese nationals and investments in Pakistan, including in major cities like Karachi. In 2021, a suicide bomber affiliated with the Baloch Liberation Army's (BLA) Majeed Brigade attacked a convoy carrying Chinese engineers and workers, killing three Chinese nationals near the Jinnah International Airport and the Chinese consulate area in Karachi. China has also raised similar concerns with the Taliban administration in Afghanistan regarding the alleged presence of Uyghur militant groups, such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). This antithetical approach serves dual purposes - mitigating pressure on Pakistan's influential military establishment while keeping India preoccupied with cross-border security challenges. The SCO Factor China's selective counter-terror posture also plays out in other multilateral groupings like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which remains a key arena for its regional influence. With India and Pakistan inducted as full members in 2017, China portrayed the bloc as a pan-Asia alternative to Western-led groupings. But India's strong stance against cross-border terrorism and leanings towards the QUAD bloc have complicated that narrative. India's limited participation in the SCO, especially since 2019, is increasingly shaped by the grouping's silence on cross-border terrorism allegations against Pakistan. India's decision to downgrade its summit participation to a virtual format in 2023 further challenges China's efforts to position the SCO as a counterweight to US influence in the region. For China, India's continued engagement in the SCO remains crucial for maintaining the bloc's diplomatic credibility. India could continue framing Chinese obstructionism as a significant concern for global counterterrorism efforts with the aim of raising the reputational and diplomatic costs of China's inaction, without relying solely on the UNSC system. India's widening engagement with QUAD, involving Australia, Japan, India, and the US, through military exercises and joint dialogues, will also keep China on edge by signalling a strengthened Indo-Pacific alliance countering the Chinese regional influence.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
India likely to avoid trade ban on Turkey due to $2.73 bn surplus
India is restricting Turkish involvement in key infrastructure projects over security concerns but is avoiding a full trade ban. Despite industry calls, the government is unlikely to impose a trade ban, due to $2.73 billion trade surplus. read more While India is taking steps to limit Turkish involvement in key infrastructure projects on national security grounds, it is less inclined to impose similar restrictions on overall trade. This is despite industry groups calling for a ban on imports such as apples and marble. The main reason is that India runs a $2.73 billion trade surplus with Turkey, and blocking trade could harm India's own interests. 'We have received several representations requesting a ban on imports from Turkey. Apple growers from Himachal Pradesh have specifically sought a ban on Turkish apple imports. However, India maintains a trade surplus with Turkey, and we must also consider the interests of our exporters. A trade ban could send a strong geopolitical message, but it's a question of how far we are willing to take it,' a government official told The Indian Express. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The trade surplus is significant because India primarily exports industrial goods to Turkey—such as engineering products, electronics, and chemicals—which have steadily increased over the past five years. In contrast, Turkey's exports to India are mainly limited to fruits, nuts, gold, and marble. Following the Ukraine war, Turkey had ramped up its imports of petroleum products from India, but this category has seen a sharp decline in FY25. This development comes in the wake of Turkey backing Pakistan during heightened tensions with India, after New Delhi carried out Operation Sindoor targeting terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Last month, apple growers from Himachal Pradesh met officials from the Union Commerce Ministry, demanding a ban on apple imports. They claimed that cheap, subsidised Turkish apples are damaging the domestic horticulture sector and pushing local farmers into financial distress. They also emphasised that apples are not merely a crop, but the economic backbone of hill states. Marble processors from Udaipur also wrote to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) last month, seeking restrictions on marble imports from Turkey. Earlier this month, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul and stated that both countries would work to deepen cooperation, especially in defence, energy, and transport, according to a statement from Erdogan's office. Pak gets strong Turkey backing About two weeks ago, Turkey reaffirmed its close ties with Pakistan, which are rooted in shared religious identity and historical links. Erdogan also expressed solidarity with Pakistan after India conducted military strikes in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam carried out by Pakistan-backed militants.
