Moeed Yusuf, the man believed to have played a key in brokering the LOC truce between India and Pakistan early this year, has been formally appointed Pakistan’s national security advisor (NSA). He was holding the position of special assistant to Pakistan’s prime minister (SAPM) on national security prior to his appointment as NSA. 

His status now will be equivalent to that of a federal cabinet minister, according to a notification issued by Pakistan’s Cabinet division, Dawn reported. Earlier, as the SAPM, he was accorded a state minister rank. 

He also held the position of chairman of the Strategic Policy Planning Cell from 26 September 2019 to 23 December 2019. The cell was based in Prime Minister Office and had been tasked with providing input on issues that fell under the National Security Committee’s mandate.

Before his appointment to SAPM in 2019, he was associate vice president of the Asia Center in a reputed American think tank, the United State Institute for Peace.

(SAM)