National: In a significant move aimed at bolstering the nation’s security apparatus, the Union government has announced the reconstitution of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). At the helm of this crucial body will now be Alok Joshi, the former chief of India’s premier intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
The newly formed NSAB will see the inclusion of seven distinguished individuals, each bringing a wealth of experience from various arms of the nation’s security and diplomatic corps. Among the prominent appointees are Lieutenant General AK Singh, former Western Air Commander, and Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, both esteemed retired military leaders. The board will also benefit from the expertise of retired Indian Police Service officers Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, alongside B Venkatesh Varma, a seasoned retired Indian Foreign Service officer.
This strategic reshuffle within the NSAB gains heightened significance in the immediate aftermath of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The brutal incident resulted in the tragic loss of 26 lives, including that of a Nepalese national, and left numerous others with injuries, sending shockwaves across the nation.
Responding swiftly to the grave security challenge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at his official residence. The session was dedicated to a comprehensive evaluation of the prevailing security scenario in light of the Pahalgam attack. Adding to the flurry of high-level deliberations, two other key cabinet committees, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), were also convened.
This latest CCS meeting follows closely on the heels of a prior session held on April 23. During that earlier briefing, the committee received a detailed account of the Pahalgam tragedy, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali individual. Further underscoring the government’s focus on the evolving security landscape, a formal cabinet briefing has been scheduled for 3 pm today.
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