• PM visits ISI headquarters for security briefing; sharper vigilance, tighter intelligence coordination urged
• National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre inaugurated, will boost anti-terrorism efforts

ISLAMABAD: As tensions with India surge, Pakistan’s top civilian leaders and the military brass called for a hardened national security posture, urging sharper vigilance, tighter intelligence coordination, and enhanced operational preparedness to effectively deter and, if necessary, forcefully counter any act of Indian aggression.

The declaration came in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office following a visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) headquarters. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and services chiefs. Notably absent was Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, even though ISI functions as an inter-services organisation.

The PMO released a rare group photo of the delegation with the senior leadership of ISI and other military intelligence agencies. Unlike the usual images featuring only the heads of intelligence bodies, this one included second-tier leadership, who typically remain behind the scenes.

The visit came amid heightened bilateral tensions following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian-occupied Kashmir, where 26 people were killed. India blamed Pakistan-linked elements for the assault and responded with a flurry of retaliatory steps — suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing airspace to Pakistani carriers, shutting down the Attari-Wagah border crossing, and expelling Pakistani diplomats. The Line of Control has since seen near-daily skirmishes.

“The visit entailed a detailed briefing on the prevailing security environment, with a particular focus on preparedness for conventional threats in light of India’s increasingly aggressive and provocative posture along Pakistan’s eastern border,” the PMO said in its statement.

“The leadership was apprised of regional security developments and the evolving threat matrix, including conventional military options, hybrid warfare tactics and terrorist proxies,” it added.

Pakistan views India’s moves — including troop mobilisations and diplomatic measures — as provocations. The ISI presentation reportedly addressed a broad “threat matrix” encompassing conventional military risks, hybrid warfare tactics such as cyberattacks and disinformation, and the alleged use of proxy terrorist groups.

Coinciding with the visit, a military vehicle was attacked in the Mach area of Balochistan’s Kachhi district, in which seven soldiers were martyred. The attack was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army, a terrorist group that is said by the army to be an “Indian proxy”.

“The prime minister and accompanying dignitaries underscored the imperative of heightened national vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, and reinforced operational readiness to deter and decisively respond to any violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the PMO added.

Niftac inaugurated

In a related development, PM Shehbaz also inaugurated the newly established National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (Niftac) — a long-awaited hub for streamlining Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategy and threat analysis. Niftac will serve as the central node integrating over 50 federal and provincial departments into a unified intelligence and threat management system, linked to six Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centres (Piftacs), including those in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The initiative aims to harmonise intelligence collection, analysis, and response across military and civilian agencies using a shared national database. According to the PMO, it will enhance preparedness, improve resource allocation, and ensure a timely, coordinated counterterrorism response.

Calling it a “quintessential national platform for collaborative threat assessment,” the prime minister expressed hope that NIFTAC would succeed where earlier attempts had stalled. In 2016, a similar body called the Joint Intelligence Directorate (JID) was created, but failed to function effectively due to turf wars between agencies unwilling to share information. Another initiative, the National Intelligence Coordination Committee (NICC), was approved during the Imran Khan government but has largely remained inactive.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2025