Pakistan is set to appoint a former general as the new National Security Adviser (NSA), in a move that shows further strengthening of the powerful army’s grip of security affairs of the country and its dealings with India.
Replacing the incumbent mild-mannered Sartaj Aziz with lieutenant General (retd) Nasir Khan Janjua, who retired earlier this month, is also being seen as sending a message to India after cancellation of NSA-level talks at the last minute in August.
Sources said that Aziz, 86, who currently holds the dual office of NSA and a de facto foreign minister as advisor on foreign affairs, has been relieved of his role as the NSA to let him focus on the Foreign Ministry which has been suffering due to the hectic nature of his work.
An official in the government said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has overcome the hesitation to have an ex-general as NSA. Sharif was ousted in a 1999 coup by the military during a previous term as Prime Minister.
Janjua retired as chief of southern command and effectively controls the affairs of the restive Balochistan while staying at the command headquarters in the provincial capital Quetta.
A security official said that as chief of the key southern command, he had been dealing the two hot issues of Afghanistan and alleged “Indian support for separatist in Balochistan” fighting a low-level insurgency.