In response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam last week, the Centre has restructured the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and appointed former RAW chief Alok Joshi as its new head on Wednesday (April 30). The seven-member panel includes retired officials from the armed forces, Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).
Who is Alok Joshi?
A former Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Joshi is an IPS officer from the 1976 Haryana cadre and a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) alumnus. Originally from Lucknow, he served as Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau in 2005, became RAW Special Secretary in 2010, and took over as RAW chief in 2012.
Why was Alok Joshi picked to lead NSAB?
Joshi’s appointment signals a strong message from the Central government, reaffirming its commitment to respond decisively to the Pahalgam terror attack. It also reflects India’s tough stance towards Pakistan as emphasised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vow to deliver justice.
Other members of the seven-member board include retired military officers Air Marshal P.M. Sinha (former Western Air Commander), Lt. Gen. A.K. Singh (former Southern Army Commander), and Rear Admiral Monty Khanna. The board also features two retired IPS officers, Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, along with former IFS officer B. Venkatesh Varma.
The move follows a second Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by PM Modi on Wednesday. The CCS had earlier met on April 23, a day after the attack. Separate meetings of the Cabinet Committees on Political and Economic Affairs were also held, followed by a briefing at 3 PM.
On Tuesday, PM Modi asserted that the Indian armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to determine the response to the Pahalgam incident. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force also attended the meeting.