1.              Background.  The origin of the National Defence University (NDU) goes back to the year 1963, when the 1st Army War Course started at the Command and Staff College, Quetta. Subsequently, in 1971, a dedicated National Defence College was established which in 1995, shifted to its present campus at the foothills of picturesque Margalla Hills of Islamabad. National Defence University is entrusted with the task of higher defence education encompassing national security and military strategy for senior officers from armed forces as well as senior officers from civil services of Pakistan and officers from friendly allied countries. Three parallel courses, namely National Defence Course (NDC), Armed Forces War Course (AFWC) and Allied Officers War Course (AOWC) were organised for 44 weeks duration each upto 2010.

2.          It was felt that one course covering the entire spectrum of national security as well as military strategy will yield better results in addition to saving time. In view of this, it was decided to merge NDC, AFWC and AOWC to organise one comprehensive and integrated ‘National Security and War Course’ (NSWC) at the University. This change ensures more dynamism and in line with contemporary environment while retaining the rich heritage and knowledge base of previous courses.

3.         The Change. The course will cover essentials of both National Defence Course and Armed Forces War Course. Therefore, friendly countries can nominate officers from different services including the civilian officers who are likely to be employed on higher command and staff appointments dealing with national security as well as military and operational strategies in a joint, inter-governmental and international environment. Masters degree is being awarded on completion of the required course work as practised earlier. However, the degree has been renamed as MSc ‘Security and War Studies’. The course, now being combined, will bring rich experience of participants from divergent backgrounds to add value to the process of learning in addition to creating increased interaction and understanding amongst the participants.

4.        Aim of NSWC.  To enable the participants to develop comprehensive understanding of national security, elements of national power, military, nuclear and operational strategies within the framework of contemporary security environment to prepare them as visionary leaders for higher command and staff assignments in military as well as other government departments.

5.                  Scope The course cover essentials of national security and military strategy:-

a.            First Term. Focusing on international and national security, the term would comprise following main areas:-

(1)               Statecraft and its relevance to national power potential.

(2)               Socio-political make up and its impact on national security.

(3)               Economic policy for national security.

(4)               Pakistan’s regional and international relations.

(5)              Strategic leadership and management with focus on governance and policy implementation.

(6)               Defence policy formulation in the given environment.

(7)               Nuclear strategy for national security.

(8)               National security policy/strategy formulation.

(9)               Non Kinetic Warfare and 4th Generation Warefare.

(10)             Analysis of a national security issues and formulation of a comprehensive response strategy.

b.            Second Term. Focusing on formulation of military strategy and developing understanding of operational art, the term will comprise following main areas:-

(1)               Theory of war, strategy and military history.

(2)               Operational art, its evolution and application in contemporary environment.

(3)               Methodology for evolving joint military and operational strategies, nuclear strategy and single service strategies
    within the overall spectrum of national security.

(4)               Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), specialised warfare, crisis and disaster management and
   multinational operations under United Nations charter.

(5)               War-game, map exercises and case studies.

6.                   Conduct Modalities

a.             Designation of the Course. National Security and War Course.

b.             Duration of the Course.       46 weeks.

c.             Terms

(1)        National Security Term.      20 Weeks

(2)        Military Strategy Term.       26 Weeks

d.          Highlights.   The course will be organized on divisional bases. Each div will have equal participation from Allied, Military and Civil officers. The div affiliation will remain as such during the course. However, interaction between divs will take place through joint talks, exercises, seminars and war games etc.

e.            Symbol Awarded

(1)               Completion of complete course – nswc.

(2)               Completion of first term by civilian officials – nsc.

f.         Guest Speakers.  Our distinguished guest speakers include eminent personalities like ministers, senators, honourable ambassadors (ambassadors of US, China, India and Iran regularly deliver talks), visiting dignitaries from many countries, academicians and professors from home and abroad.

g.           Study Tours.   Course will have number of inland study tours including visits to provincial capitals, industrial complexes, military establishments and other relevant organisations. The course also includes a foreign study tour to two countries.

h.           Course Intake and Service Experience of Participants.  The course is open for military officers preferably of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to Brigadiers and equivalent from armed forces of Pakistan, officers from civil services of Pakistan and military and civil officers from friendly countries. The experience structure of the participants ranges from 22-30 years. Approximate strength is as under:-

(1)               Pakistan Military                      -           100

(2)               Pakistan Civil Services           -               20

(3)               Allied Officers                          -             50

i.            Option for Civilian Officials.   Civ Participants would attend the first term only and on completing the course will carry the symbol of 'nsc'.

7.                  Award of Certificate / Degree

a.       Certificate of Graduation.   All participants successfully completing the course will be awarded Certificate of Graduation with symbol of nswc. (nsc for those attending National Security Course only).

b.       Award of Academic Degree.  

          (1) Master. The Participants (mil participants only) will be awarded masters degree in 'Security and War Studies' in addition to the certificate of graduation on fulfillment of criteria laid down by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. While all participants will get certificate of graduation, pursuing the master degree will be optional (mil participants only). Those not fulfilling criteria for masters can get BSc Honours degree subject to fulfilling certain requirements (mil participants only).

           (2) M.Phil. Those qualify for M.Phil degree will be required to complete course work and submit thesis within six month after termination of the course and will be awarded M.Phil degree.

8.                  The course provides excellent learning environment for all participants especially through interaction with experienced participants having varied background. It covers the entire spectrum of security and threat starting from national/regional level down to employment of military forces and campaign planning. The challenges posed by rapidly globalization, interconnected and interdependent world to international and national security including strategic leadership.