ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has appointed Major General Faisal Naseer, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general for counterintelligence, as the national coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) for a three-year tenure on a secondment basis, as the country intensifies its counter-terrorism efforts amid ongoing security challenges in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The federal government approved the appointment, which became effective immediately under Section 9(1) of the NACTA Act, 2013, as confirmed by a notification issued by the Establishment Division.
A critical appointment amid rising security concerns
Major General Naseer, a highly decorated military officer honoured with Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-i-Basalat & Bar, brings substantial expertise in counter-terrorism operations and intelligence gathering. His appointment is particularly significant as Pakistan intensifies security campaigns in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, regions that continue to face militant threats.
The Establishment Division notification specified that the appointment is made “on secondment basis, for a period of three (3) years, on standard terms and conditions, as contained in JSI-4/85, with immediate effect and until further orders.”
NACTA’s role in Pakistan’s counter-terrorism architecture
Established in 2008 under the Ministry of Interior, NACTA serves as Pakistan’s central coordinating body for counter-terrorism and counter-extremism initiatives. The authority is responsible for:
- Formulating comprehensive national counter-terrorism strategies
- Developing and overseeing implementation of action plans
- Providing progress reports to the federal government
- Facilitating coordination between federal and provincial institutions
NACTA has previously been entrusted with executing the 20-point National Action Plan, which was introduced following the tragic Army Public School attack in December 2014.
