Centre revamps National Security Advisory Board amid India-Pakistan tensions

In response to rising tensions with Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region, the Indian government has restructured the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), appointing former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Alok Joshi as its new head. The attack, which occurred on April 22 in the Baisaran Valley, claimed the lives of 26 people and has intensified the security concerns in the region.

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The newly reconstituted NSAB will now consist of six members drawn from key sectors of national defense and intelligence. The board includes three retired military officers: Lieutenant General AK Singh, a former Southern Army Commander; Air Marshal PM Sinha, former Western Air Commander; and Rear Admiral Monty Khanna. Alongside them are retired Indian Police Service officers Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh, as well as former Indian Foreign Service diplomat B Venkatesh Varma.

The NSAB, first established in 1998, plays a strategic role in assessing long-term national security challenges and advising the National Security Council (NSC) on policy responses. The last board was formed in 2018 under the leadership of former Indian Ambassador to Russia, PS Raghavan. The current restructuring under Joshi’s leadership aligns with India’s broader diplomatic and strategic efforts to counter terrorism and address cross-border threats, particularly those linked to Pakistan.