The appointment of Major General Faisal Naseer as the new National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has renewed attention on the role and effectiveness of the organisation. Naseer has been appointed for a three-year term on secondment under Section 9(1) of the Nacta Act, 2013, with immediate effect.
Nacta was established in 2008 under the Ministry of Interior and later received administrative and financial autonomy through the Nacta Act, 2013. Its responsibilities include gathering intelligence, developing counter-terrorism and counter-extremism strategies, preparing action plans, monitoring implementation, conducting research and coordinating with national and international organisations.
The authority became particularly important after the 2014 Army Public School attack, when it played a role in preparing the 20-point National Action Plan and monitoring its implementation.
However, Nacta has faced institutional challenges over the years. One major concern is its continued dependence on deputed officers from other government departments and services. This arrangement has made it difficult for the authority to develop a strong and permanent institutional structure.
Another issue is the limited frequency of meetings of its senior forums. Nacta’s official record shows that its seventh Executive Committee meeting was held on April 24, 2024, with no eighth meeting publicly listed up to September 4, 2026.
The Board of Governors met in April 2025 under Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and approved the creation of the National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (NIFTAC). The centre aims to improve intelligence sharing and national-level threat assessment.
Historically, Nacta’s Board of Governors carried considerable political and institutional weight, with the prime minister at the helm and chief ministers, intelligence chiefs and other senior officials among its members. Its later placement under the interior minister changed the authority’s institutional position.
Naseer’s appointment now presents an opportunity to strengthen Nacta’s coordination role and restore its importance in Pakistan’s national security framework. Its success will ultimately depend on the authority, resources and institutional backing provided to it.
