Controversial ISI Chief Major General Faisal Naseer Appointed as NACTA National

Major General Faisal Naseer is a two-star officer with extensive experience in counter-terrorism and internal security operations. He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 2022 and has served as the ISI’s Director General (Counter-Intelligence), a senior position overseeing internal security and counter-intelligence matters. He has previously been associated with operations in Balochistan and other high-threat areas.

NACTA, which functions under the Interior Ministry, is the federal body responsible for formulating and coordinating Pakistan’s national counter-terrorism and counter-extremism policies and strategies. It works to align federal and provincial institutions, develops threat assessments, and supports implementation of the National Action Plan.

The appointment comes as Pakistan continues intelligence-based and kinetic operations against terrorist groups, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Official statements and reports have highlighted Naseer’s operational background as relevant to the role of strengthening inter-agency coordination at a time of persistent security challenges.

This marks a notable shift: NACTA’s National Coordinator position has traditionally been held by senior police officers (Police Service of Pakistan) or civil servants from the administrative cadre. The placement of a serving major general in the post reflects deeper military involvement in the civilian counter-terrorism coordination architecture.

The notification has been circulated to the President’s Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Division, Interior Division, provincial chief secretaries, and relevant NACTA and accounting authorities. Major General Naseer has been directed to submit his charge assumption report.

Reactions in initial coverage have largely focused on his professional credentials for the assignment. Some independent commentary has interpreted the move in the broader context of civil-military dynamics and institutional reshuffles, though mainstream reporting has emphasized the operational rationale amid ongoing security pressures.

As National Coordinator, Naseer will serve as the chief executive of NACTA and as secretary to its Board of Governors, which is chaired by the Interior Minister and includes representatives from key federal and provincial security and administrative bodies.