Major General Faisal Naseer Transferred to Nacta in Unexpected Move

In a surprising development on Friday, Major General Faisal Naseer, previously the Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence’s Internal Wing, has been appointed as the National Coordinator for the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta). This shift comes at a pivotal moment, just ahead of anticipated promotions within the military.

The role of DG (C), which Naseer held since 2022, is often mischaracterized as leading the ISI's counter-intelligence efforts; however, it primarily focuses on domestic security and political matters, engaging closely with key power centers in Pakistan. Within the ISI hierarchy, this position is regarded as the second most influential after the director general.

Maj Gen Naseer, whose transfer raises eyebrows among military observers, was seen as a strong contender for promotion to lieutenant general due to his background with the Corps of Military Intelligence. The conventional wisdom in military career progression suggests that moving out of a key operational role could hinder future promotion prospects, although there have been exceptions.

Nacta, established in 2009 and later reinforced by the Nacta Act of 2013, was intended to be the primary civilian authority for coordinating counter-terrorism efforts across federal and provincial agencies. However, it has struggled to fulfill this vision, often functioning more as a policy secretariat with limited enforcement capabilities. The appointment of a senior military officer like Maj Gen Naseer could indicate a new direction for the authority, which has seen over a dozen coordinators since its inception, predominantly from the police service.

Source: www.dawn.com