National security policy forwarded to cabinet

Home ministry has sent the draft of National Security Policy to the Council of Ministers for approval, reports say.
The report was prepared by a task force including representatives from the home ministry, defence ministry and the security council. Other concerned agencies including the Constituent Assembly (CA) committee for the protection of national interest, political parties and experts were not consulted while preparing the policy, Annapurna Post daily reported.
The proposed draft includes policies to be adopted on various issues including concept of security, factors affecting it, responsible agencies and their responsibilities, internal and external challenges and threats to national security, role of civil administration in security, information security, social and economic security.
This is the first time a National Security Policy is being prepared in Nepal. Earlier, the army used to prepare its own security policies, while other security agencies, too, had their own policies.
However, security experts have said, it is not right to prepare the National Security Policy without extensive discussion at political level and consulting all stakeholders.
The National Security Policy should be made with a long-term vision and extensive discussion, said security expert Deep Prakash Bhatta.
National Security Policy is not only about arms and army men; the political leadership has to become more serious on this, said Govind Thapa, another security expert.
Meanwhile, National Defence Council (NDC) has met on Tuesday, for the first time after formation of the new coalition government.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal instructed to make the NDC more active and call regular meetings, according to home secretary Nabin Kumar Ghimire. No decision was taken as it was an introductory meeting, he said.