The number of meetings of the National Security Committee (NSC) held to address the security threats in the country has declined from three in 2013-14 to only one meeting in 2014-15. Recently launched Pildat's core card' on the "Federal Government of Pakistan: Assessment of the quality of Governance" evaluates the change in the quality of governance in the federation upon the completion on the second year in office (2014-15) in comparison to the first year of the government (2013-14).
The initiation of Zarb-e-Azb and National Action Plan demonstrate positive performance in curtailing security threats to the country and have positively contributed to the score of 55 percent. The perceived performance, as depicted by Pildat's public opinion poll on governance was 61 percent in 2013-14 but fell to 53 percent in 2014-15. Pildat suggests that NSC committee must meet regularly to assess progress on pressing national defence concerns such as the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation in North Waziristan.
The casualties from drone strikes, including the number of terrorists killed more than doubled over the period of observation, from 122 such casualties in 2014 to a total of 85 casualties in 2015. This shows an increase in the use of air strikes, especially through foreign drones. However, ground action against terrorists has been on the rise in the form of operations such as Zarb-e-Azb. Air violation has grown to become a matter of concern in light of drone strikes conducted by the US in Pakistan.
The largest portion of the federal budget goes towards national defence. In 2014-15, the allocation towards defence affairs and services was Rs 700.15 billion, about 11.6 percent higher than the previous year when it had been Rs 627.23 billion. Allocations under multiple other heads are also made towards national defence, therefore, the allocation under defence affairs in not an accurate reflection of the aggregate allocation for national defence. In 2013-14, nearly 15.7 percent of the total federal budget went towards defence affairs and services. This allocation increased by 0.57 percentage points in 2014-15 when the allocation was 16.27 percent of the total budget.
The greatest challenges to Pakistan's sovereignty and security come from within the country through growing militant strongholds operating countrywide. The militants operating in the country are both domestic such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and transnational including Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohamamd.
Pakistan-Afghanistan border is a highly volatile place due to the presence of terrorists on a highly porous national border. Pakistan's concerns are related to the growing Indian presence in Afghanistan and getting embroiled in a proxy war against the US on Afghan soil. At the same time, ongoing firing over the Line of Control separating Pakistan from India make the eastern front of the country insecure as well.
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