Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday here reviewed the entire spectrum of security situation in the wake of Pahalgam terror attacks in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting. It was the second CCS meeting since the dastardly act on April 22. Along with the high-level security meeting, two additional committee meetings - the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)were also convened at the Prime Minister’s residence.
The Government, meanwhile, has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) — a move that came amid speculations about India’s possible retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in view of its cross border linkages. Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Alok Joshi has been appointed as NSAB chairman. The NSAB is an advisory body that provides inputs to the National Security Council Secretariat.
Incidentally, the latest CCS meeting took place a day after the Prime Minister held a meeting here on Tuesday with the top military brass and accorded operational freedom to the armed forces on the “mode, targets and timing” of India’s response to the April 22 attack that killed 26 people. In the first meeting on April 23, the CCS decided a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operation land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the attack. In response, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries. Pakistan rejected India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and said any move to stop the flow of water would be seen as an “act of war”.
In the high-level meeting with the defence brass on Tuesday, Modi asserted that the armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India’s response, Government sources said. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the chiefs of three services.
The Prime Minister affirmed that it is “our national resolve” to deal a crushing blow to terrorism, Government sources said, adding that he expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian armed forces.
As regards revamping NSAB, the new seven-member board includes several distinguished former officers from the armed forces and civil services.
These include former Western Air Commander Air Marshal P M Sinha, former Southern Army Commander Lt General A K Singh, and Rear Admiral(retired)Monty Khanna from the military services.
Representing the Indian Police Service are Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, both retired IPS officers. Former Indian Foreign Service officer B Venkatesh Varma has been included in the board.
The NSAB comprises a group of eminent national security experts outside the Government. Members are usually senior retired officials, civilian as well as military, academicias and distinguished members of civil society drawn from and having expertise in internal and external security, foreign affairs, defence, science and technology and economic affairs.
Constituted in 1998, the NSAB undertakes long-term analysis to provide perspectives on the national security issues to the National Security Council (NSC) and to recommend measures or solutions and policy options on the issues referred to it by the NSC. The last board was constituted in 2018 with P S Raghvan, former Indian Ambassador to Russia (2014-16), as its head.