With the endorsement, the Army chief will participate in the NSC meetings chaired by the prime minister. Other members of the NSC include defense minister, home minister, foreign minister, finance minister and chief secretary. The defense secretary will act as the member-secretary of the NSC.Earlier, there was a hue and cry as the preliminary draft constitution had proposed only a five-member NSC under the presidency of the prime minister, excluding the CoAS. Nepal Army and defense experts had been lobbying with the government and CA stakeholders for the inclusion of the Army chief to make the NSC more active, scientific and practical.
With the endorsement of the clause, the Nepal Army and related experts have lauded the representation of Army chief in the government's top authority that formulates policies on national security and defense as well as mobilizes, coordinates and controls the national army.
"Nepal Army welcomes the endorsement of the representation of Army chief in the NSC. We believe that the representation will benefit the NSC with CoAS's expertise and experience," said Brigadier General Jagdish Chandra Pokharel, spokesperson of the Nepal Army.
Retired Lieutenant General Balananda Sharma said, "The Council had always been lacking the related expert and the new constitutional provision will fill the gap. As the NSC is the key body to suggest the government to mobilize the national army as and when required, the Army chief's role will be very crucial in erasing confusion in mobilization of the national army."
He also opined that the representation of Army chief was also important to change the traditional and politically motivated mindset on national security and to distinguish the national army from police in the real sense.
Experts also sought for the need of an advisory board to suggest the council on national security during critical conditions.
"Comprehensive and reformed national security strategies should guide the national army but it's not happening because of the lack of proper advisory board," security expert Deepak Prakash Bhatta said.
Nepal Army had also suggested for not allowing Public Service Commission (PSC) in recruiting its staff and authorizing the Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to probe into the graft charges against its retired personnel citing that the Army Act was enough for transparency and justice.
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