Explanation

National Command Authority (NCA) was formally established and given commissioned on February 3, 2000, after approval by Pakistan’s National Security Council. The command compromises the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), the Development Control Committee (DCC), and a Strategic Plans Division (SPD). In February 2000 Pakistan’s National Security Council (NSC) established the National Command Authority (NCA). The NCA is the nation’s highest decision-making authority on nuclear and missile policy issues, and oversees all nuclear and missile programs. The International Institute for Strategic Studies notes that although the makeup of the committee would appear to grant substantial civilian authority over nuclear and missile policy, “in practice, the military would probably prevail on nuclear decision-making during wartime or a military crisis.” The Strategic Plans Division (SPD) executes and administers NCA policy.