SAPM Moeed Yusuf’s being named National Security Adviser not only represents a leg up for him, but also has the PTI government filling the slot for the first time during its tenure. This delay of half its tenure should not make it seem that the post is in any way redundant. The NSA is crucial to the use of nuclear weapons, but Dr Yusuf’s predecessor, Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua devoted his energies to two pressing issues. He was an important component of the backchannel diplomacy with India, which was also handled by his Indian counterpart. With the back channel picking up steam, it probably felt appropriate to have an interlocutor at this end. Another portion of the NSA’s remit is to do with Afghanistan; that is at the moment entering the endgame of a US exit, and a fulltime NSA would play a crucial role in this.
This raises the question of whether all interested parties are on board with this appointment. The government cannot really describe itself as on the same page with the military, which may explain why a civilian has been chosen for a post last held by a retired lieutenant general, and for which a former Joint Chiefs Chairman was considered. However, as Dr Yusuf will find out, it is not only the military which might be wary of his input, but reservations are also expected from the Foreign Office, which had previously opposed an appointment as unnecessary.
Another difficulty that Dr Yusuf might face are questions about his nationality. He has US permanent residency, as well as property there. His post seems to be the one the Supreme Court had in mind when it banned foreign nationals from contesting elections or holding Cabinet office. In the Afghan endgame, can he be expected to take Pakistan’s side if it ever clashed with the USA? Then there is the question of the country’s nuclear arsenal, where the USA and Pakistan still have disagreements. With all these question marks, will Dr Yusuf get the security clearances that he needs to do his job properly?
