Babar calls for appointment of civilian as NSA

Senator Farhatullah Babar Tuesday called for the appointment of a civilian as national security advisor instead of a recently retired lieutenant general, saying an important position in a democratic set-p should reflect the civilian government's priorities in negotiations with the civilian side of key foreign countries.
Speaking on his calling attention notice in the Senate, Senator Babar said the present appointee Lieutenant General Nasir Janjua, who has recently got retired as corps commander Quetta, must be a very competent and professional military commander.
However, he said within 10 days of his retirement as corps commander Quetta he was blessed with the top slot of national security adviser, adding it was inevitable he will be beholden to his military command structure and reflect military priorities in issues on national security.
Babar said that with a serving or just retired corps commander as NSA the tone and tenor of dialogue with the civilian side of important foreign countries will undergo a fundamental change as the military command will have direct and immediate input in the process further diluting the input of the civilian and political side. He held the government responsible for creating a situation whereby the civilian side has lost a critical position in security policy formulation and surrendering further political space to the military. "Had the government heeded the advice to separate the two positions of advisor foreign affairs and national security advisor and had there been a full time foreign minister the talks would not have been heavily dominated by security perspective," he lamented.
He said that the national security committee headed by the prime minister comprised of in addition to the chairman joint chiefs, the army, navy and air force chiefs the ministers of defence, foreign affairs, interior and finance and national security advisor. With a recently retired general reflecting the GHQ priorities as NSA the number of military officers in the national security committee, he added, has become five as against four civilian ministers which will further tilt the balance against the civilians.
He proposed the appointment of a civilian NSA with the rank of a full fledged minister instead of a minister of state. He also suggested that the Rules of Business be revisited and area of responsibilities of NSA clearly defined and under no circumstances the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), a civilian area of responsibility, be placed under the NSA.