Pakistan Drafts New Internal Security Policy to Boost Counter-Terrorism Coordination

Pakistan is preparing a new National Internal Security Policy (2026-30) aimed at strengthening counter-terrorism measures by improving intelligence-sharing, integrating criminal databases, and curbing terror financing across the country.

The proposed policy will be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the National Police Management Board (NPMB) later this month and will incorporate recommendations from provincial police chiefs, as well as police authorities from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, according to a report by Dawn on Thursday.

Among the key proposals are the establishment of a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Gilgit-Baltistan, nationwide integration of police data, enhanced interprovincial intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and stronger measures to disrupt terrorist financing networks.

The policy also envisions a greater role for the National Police Bureau (NPB) in shaping nationwide police reforms and internal security strategies. NPB chief and Federal Investigation Agency Director General Usman Anwar highlighted the need for closer coordination among civilian law-enforcement agencies, describing the current level of cooperation as inadequate.

"There is a dire need to establish a uniform mechanism across provinces and collaborate with international and domestic intelligence agencies to fight terrorism and choke terrorist financing," Anwar told the newspaper.

The upcoming NPMB meeting is expected to address issues including police specialisation, welfare, training, transnational crime, women police networking, intelligence-sharing, and the development of the CTD in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The initiative comes amid renewed efforts by Pakistan's security establishment to bolster internal security following a rise in militant attacks in several regions. Security experts cited by the newspaper said longstanding structural weaknesses have hindered the police force's ability to effectively combat terrorism, insurgency, and emerging criminal threats.