The government reformed the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and appointed Alok Joshi, former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), as the new chairman.

The new NSAB includes seven members from different backgrounds, mostly retired officials who have served in important roles. These include Air Marshal PM Sinha, who served as the Western Air Commander; Lt Gen AK Singh, former Southern Army Commander; and Rear Admiral Monty Khanna. All three come from the armed forces.

From the Indian Police Service (IPS), two retired officers — Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh — have also been added. Another member, B. Venkatesh Varma, is a retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.

The NSAB is a multidisciplinary group that includes respected people from outside the government. Its main role is to give long-term advice to the National Security Council. The board helps by suggesting solutions and policy ideas on national security issues.

High-level security meetings after Pahalgam terror attack

This decision came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an important Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting at his residence in Delhi. The meeting was in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national were killed.

The CCS meeting, last held on April 23, discussed details about the cross-border connections related to the attack. It was also noted that the attack happened after the peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir and during its steady progress toward economic growth.

Along with the CCS, PM Modi also chaired two other meetings—one with the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) and another with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). A cabinet briefing has been scheduled for 3:00 pm today.

Sources said that during another high-level meeting on Tuesday, PM Modi told the top military leaders that he had complete faith in the Indian Armed Forces. He added, “The Indian Armed Forces have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response.”

 

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