Centre Restructures National Security Advisory Board Amid Escalating Tensions with Pakistan; Former RAW Chief Alok Joshi Appointed Chairman
In a significant strategic development, the Government of India has restructured the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), appointing several distinguished and battle-tested veterans from the country’s defence, intelligence, and police services. This comes at a time when national security concerns have surged following the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of several innocent tourists and has been widely attributed to Pakistan-backed operatives.
At the helm of the newly reconstituted NSAB is former intelligence chief Alok Joshi, a highly respected figure in India’s national security architecture. Joshi, who previously served as the Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India’s premier external intelligence agency, brings deep experience in counter-terrorism, geopolitical strategy, and regional security dynamics. His appointment as chairman is seen as a signal of India’s resolve to respond with clarity and strength to recent provocations.
The seven-member board has been carefully curated to include experts from across the security spectrum. Alongside Joshi, the new members include Air Marshal PM Sinha (Retd), a former Western Air Commander; Lt Gen AK Singh (Retd), who served as the Southern Army Commander; and senior police officers Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, both from the Indian Police Service (IPS). The inclusion of Ambassador B. Venkatesh Varma, a retired officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and former envoy to Russia, further strengthens the board’s diplomatic and strategic outlook.
|Also Read : Who Is Alok Joshi, Former R&AW Chief, Appointed Chairman Of National Security Advisory Board Following Revamp? |
Background and Context
The National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), functioning under the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), plays a pivotal role in shaping India’s security policies and strategic thinking. It provides long-term assessments and inputs on internal and external threats, defence posture, and policy alternatives to the National Security Advisor and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Historically, the board has been composed of a mix of serving and retired officials, academics, and domain experts, offering a multi-disciplinary perspective on complex national security challenges.
The decision to revamp the NSAB comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions with Pakistan. On the evening of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which heavily armed terrorists targeted a group of Indian and foreign tourists in the picturesque Kashmir valley, the country witnessed a wave of outrage and calls for stern retribution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while expressing his grief and condolences, issued a stern warning that those responsible for the massacre would not be spared, vowing to track down the perpetrators “to the ends of the earth.”
Since then, Modi has chaired several high-level meetings with key members of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), and the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) — collectively referred to as the ‘super cabinet.’ These meetings are believed to have laid the groundwork for a multi-pronged response strategy involving diplomatic isolation, economic sanctions, covert operations, and targeted counter-terror measures.
Implications of the NSAB Overhaul
The restructuring of the NSAB reflects a broader recalibration of India’s national security doctrine. By bringing in seasoned military commanders, senior intelligence officers, and diplomatic experts, the government is aligning its institutional apparatus to tackle threats in a more cohesive and dynamic manner. Each member of the new board brings specialized knowledge: from air and land warfare to counter-insurgency, international diplomacy, and intelligence operations.
According to senior officials, the revamped board will have an expanded role in not just advising on security responses to Pakistan, but also on safeguarding India’s strategic interests amid evolving global challenges — including cyber warfare, border tensions with China, and instability in Afghanistan.
The Ministry of External Affairs, meanwhile, is preparing to engage with key global allies to brief them on the evidence linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack. Simultaneously, security agencies have been placed on high alert across border regions and major metropolitan areas.
A formal briefing is expected soon from the government regarding the next round of sanctions and diplomatic measures. Sources suggest that a strong message will be conveyed through both policy and action, aimed at pressuring Islamabad to dismantle its terror infrastructure.
As India mourns the victims of the Pahalgam tragedy, the restructuring of the NSAB serves as a potent indicator of the government’s readiness to act decisively. With Alok Joshi at the helm, and a panel of seasoned security minds beside him, the board is expected to play a central role in steering the country through this period of heightened threat and complex geopolitical stakes.
