Maj Gen Faisal Naseer to head Nacta

Islamabad: Major General Faisal Naseer, a senior official from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been appointed national coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta). This move, approved by the federal government, comes as part of a three-year secondment under Section 9(1) of the Nacta Act, 2013. The decision, which took effect immediately, aims to bring strategic and operational experience to the counter-terrorism authority, which has faced challenges in the past.

The authority, envisioned as a "one-window operation" for coordinating national counter-terrorism efforts, has often been sidelined due to a lack of proper strategy. Maj Gen Naseer, who had been serving as DG (counter-intelligence) since 2022, brings a wealth of experience from his military background to the civilian counter-terrorism role.

The appointment marks a significant departure from previous practices, as the authority has seen numerous changes in leadership, most of whom were drawn from the police service.