The Policy Discussion Paper – The National Security Committee: How can the NSC strengthen its structure & initiate a strategic dialogue on improving inter-institutional relations in Pakistan has been prepared based on the research and advocacy by PILDAT on the subject spanning over two decades.
The aim of the paper is to trace the demand and formation of the NSC and how the under-utilisation of the forum has led to the failure in establishing a constitutional equation of inter-institutional relations. Since the forum of the NSC has been evolved over time through a series of trials and tribulations in our civil-military relations, it is only right that the forum should be adequately used for institutionalizing in-depth consultations on defence and national security. Lack of success in doing so by successive governments has resulted in the prevailing conflict and polarization affecting Pakistan’s prosperity and democratic governance.
PILDAT has been advocating effective and regular use of the forum of the NSC since its formation in 2013. PILDAT also believes that the NSC can and should be used as a forum to hold a strategic dialogue on inter-institutional relations so that the country can be governed under a set rules of the game.
This policy discussion paper, while narrating the evolution of the NSC over the past six (6) decades, has proposed an outline and agenda for a strategic dialogue to be held under the NSC. PILDAT also proposes that this paper, and proposed agenda, can and should be updated based on the input by all circles of policy makers in Pakistan to whom this paper will be disseminated.