It is essential for every nation to have a robust and comprehensive national security policy to fulfill the rudimentary needs and pertinent security concerns of people and deal with internal as well as external threats to the country. Such a policy is vital for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the national security agencies as it includes numerous vital issues like public legitimacy, ownership and sustainability. As nations devise their national security strategies and policies by carrying out thorough researches and studies, these documents can be of immense help for maintaining their national security. With such policies, many nations can either avert even major security-related problems or lessen risks. As national security is a very sensitive issue, each nation mainly incorporates several key matters like territorial integrity, sovereignty, human security, accountability, human rights, justice, gender, monitoring, coordination and communications in their national security plans.

In order to ensure better implementation of national security and defence policies, Nepal has launched an Integrated National Security Action Plan and Guidelines. These frameworks have come into force since Wednesday (March 16). The government has already forwarded the fresh integrated security action plan to each ministry for its effective enforcement. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba introduced the guideline amidst a function organised at Singha Durbar to mark the 21st anniversary of the National Security Council's Secretariat on Wednesday. Prime Minister Deuba, who is also the chairman of the National Security Council, hoped that the ministries, departments and other bodies would be instrumental in implementing the security guideline. The secretariat was established 21 years back in view of the internal, regional and global security challenges.

With its better institutional development and expertise, the secretariat is expected to carry out its responsibilities in a more efficient manner in the days ahead. The Secretariat provides necessary suggestions to the government in regard with security-related matters. Prime Minister Deuba has commended it for its excellent performance. "I am very much confident that this Secretariat will provide appropriate guidance to the National Security Council through conducting in-depth research on vital issues of national security and defense," he said. Looking at its satisfactory performance, the secretariat has also been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring and evaluating the progress of the integrated security action plan. So, it would have a bigger role to play in the effective enforcement of the plan in the future.

Defense Secretary Kiran Raj Sharma, also the coordinator of the Secretariat, and member-secretary of National Security Council, has expressed pledges to impart significant national security-related recommendations and suggestions to the Council. The secretariat has been providing suggestions to the government after making an objective evaluation of the internal and external security challenges. He said that the secretariat would play a crucial role in developing a relevant security policy in line with the changed security context, and domestic and international security challenges. The government has realised the need for implementing the national security and defense policies to strengthen national security. The Constitution of Nepal, 2015 assigns the National Security Council the responsibility on security and defense policies and make recommendations to the government regarding the control and mobilisation the Nepali Army.