ISLAMABAD: The appointment of Major General Faisal Naseer as National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) for three years has once again brought the institution’s role and effectiveness into the spotlight.
The Establishment Division notified Faisal Naseer’s appointment on Friday under Section 9(1) of the Nacta Act, 2013, on secondment for three years with immediate effect.
His appointment comes as Nacta continues to carry a broad statutory mandate but remains heavily reliant on officers deputed from other government institutions.
Nacta’s original mandate
Nacta was established in 2008 as an administrative unit of the Ministry of Interior and later gained administrative and financial autonomy under the Nacta Act, 2013.
The law established the authority as a body corporate answerable to a Board of Governors, with the responsibility of coordinating Pakistan’s counter-terrorism and counter-extremism efforts.
Its mandate includes collecting and analysing intelligence and information, preparing national counter-terrorism and counter-extremism strategies, developing action plans and monitoring their implementation.
The authority is also responsible for research, reviewing relevant laws and maintaining liaison with international organisations.
Nacta assumed greater significance following the December 2014 Army Public School attack, playing a role in preparing the 20-point National Action Plan and subsequently monitoring its implementation.
Questions over Nacta’s institutional strength
Despite its extensive responsibilities, Nacta has struggled to develop the institutional standing expected of a powerful national security body.
One of the key challenges has been its continued reliance on officers deputed from federal and provincial departments and services.
The authority continues to advertise positions on deputation for roles involving administration, coordination and implementation of decisions taken by its Board of Governors and Executive Committee.
The government had previously attempted to make service at Nacta more attractive following the National Action Plan, including through additional incentives such as a risk allowance.
However, questions have also been raised over the frequency with which Nacta’s senior decision-making bodies meet.
Nacta Executive Committee meetings under scrutiny
According to Nacta’s official record, the authority’s seventh Executive Committee meeting was held on April 24, 2024.
The meeting reviewed the country’s terrorism and security situation, Nacta’s performance and areas requiring further intervention.
No eighth Executive Committee meeting is listed on the authority’s publicly available website up to September 4, 2026.
The Board of Governors, however, met in April 2025 under Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who chairs the board under the amended legal framework.
That meeting approved the establishment of the National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (NIFTAC) under Nacta.
The government described NIFTAC as an important step towards achieving Nacta’s original objectives by improving intelligence coordination and national-level threat assessment.
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Nacta continues counter-terrorism activities
Nacta is also working under the National Prevention of Violent Extremism Policy 2024 while continuing activities related to counter-terrorism, counter-financing of terrorism, research and policy development.
The authority also engages with civil society and educational institutions as part of its efforts to address terrorism and extremism.
Its stated mission is to lead, coordinate and synchronise the efforts of relevant stakeholders in countering terrorism and extremism.
Faisal Naseer appointment renews focus on Nacta
Faisal Naseer’s appointment comes with renewed security concerns and has drawn attention to the authority’s original purpose.
With his background in intelligence and security matters, the new National Coordinator could play a key role in strengthening Nacta’s coordination with intelligence and law-enforcement agencies.
The bigger question, however, is whether his appointment will be accompanied by a broader effort to strengthen Nacta’s institutional authority, resources and decision-making role.
For an organisation specifically created to coordinate Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts, its effectiveness ultimately depends on whether other state institutions treat its assessments and coordination mechanisms as central to national security decision-making.
Nacta’s powerful board and changing structure
Nacta’s institutional structure has also evolved over the years.
The authority’s Board of Governors was originally a powerful forum headed by the prime minister, with representation from key federal and provincial stakeholders, including the chief ministers and senior intelligence officials.
The board was subsequently placed under the interior minister, changing the institutional weight and oversight structure of the authority.
This evolution has remained an important part of the broader discussion about Nacta’s ability to coordinate institutions that operate at the highest levels of Pakistan’s national security architecture.
Three years to strengthen Nacta’s role
A government source said Faisal Naseer’s three-year appointment could provide Nacta with an opportunity to strengthen its role and make the authority more consequential.
Whether that opportunity translates into meaningful institutional change will depend on the authority, resources and political and institutional backing provided to the new National Coordinator.
For Nacta, the challenge is therefore not simply about appointing a new coordinator, but about determining whether the authority can regain the central coordinating role originally envisioned for it in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism and extremism.
