National Defence University (Pakistan)

History

The origin of the National Defence University is historically associated with major general, the then lieutenant general, Sahabzada Yaqub Khan and Command and Staff College who introduced Army War Course on 1 May 1963 to Command and Staff College after he was asked in 1962 to establish a separate and a single purpose war course to that college. It initially comprised twelve participants (known as students and faculty members), including two from armed forces one from navy and other from air force. With the continuation of war studies, its participants were increased to sixteen in 1965. However, staff college was left without war course faculty following the 1965 conflict between India and Pakistan. The discontinuation of the faculty gained attention of the authorities, and the National Defence College (NDC), a stand-alone institute was established on 28 May 1970 at Lalkurti area of Rawalpindi Cantonment. It was housed in the Ayub Hall of the old National Assembly Building. The institute was later shifted to its permanent building where it worked for nearly 25 years.

During that 25 years, the college was re-designated multiple times, including in 1971 when the Army War Course was awarded the status of the Armed Forces War Course to serve for armed forces than only army. The number of faculty participants were increased from sixteen to twenty, with three officers from navy and air force.

To award the officers MSc degree in war studies, the prime minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto signed an order in 1975 to affiliate the NDC with Federal University of Islamabad (in modern-day Quaid-i-Azam University). Five years later of affiliation with Quaid university, military dictator Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the then 6th president of Pakistan signed an order in February 1980 to shift the college to the capital city Islamabad for its space expansion. Following that order, it was shifted to the new building on 17 August 1995.

The government of Pakistan upgraded it to university in 2007, while the Naval War College gained the status of Armed Forces War College, which is now a component of the National Defence University. As of March 2007, the NDU acts as a nation university in the country, and the two years later of its upgradation, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee redesignated both Army War Course, Armed Forces War Course, and National Defence Course faculties into one single component of the university, which is now known as National Security and War Course.

Amendments

The parliament of Pakistan introduced an act in 2011 titled National Defence University, Act 2011, outlining the academic, administration, and financial amendments, in addition to establishment of the NDU. It was formerly signed by the president on 14 May 2011 after majlis-ash-shura such as the National Assembly and the Senate passed the bill. It functions under that act, however employing officers, teacher and other staff members are governed by the Higher Education Commission Ordinance, 2002. The act restrict government and other authorities to qualify or disqualify the officers, teachers, students, or any other participant associated with the university, on the grounds of their "gender, religion, race, creed, class, colour, or domicile".

The act identifies the chancellor, president, dean, commandant (director general), chairperson (chief instructor), registrar, controller examination, director administration and director finance as the principal officers and also determines their powers and the functions.

Appointments

The act allows the president of Pakistan to act as the chancellor, while the president of the university is recommended by the chief of Army Staff for the final approval of the chancellor. If the post of university president falls vacant due to any uncertainty such as health complications or death, it is not assumed by the other members with an additional charge of the president. The post is generally assumed for the term of five years, however the incumbent may be terminated if recommended by the army chief.

Buildings and sites

Since its formation as a faculty and then college in Rawalpindi, it was shifted several times from one building to other, including the old national assembly near Rawalpindi Cantonment until it was permanently shifted to Islamabad in 1995. The main building is now located in Sector E-9, Islamabad near Margalla Hills.

Emblem

The emblem (generally identified as logo, although the official description of emblem does not mention "logo") of the NDU is circular in form with a green field bordered in gold, carrying the university's name in white capital letters. At its centre is an Islamic shield divided into the three service colours of the Pakistan Armed Forces: blue for the Air Force, red for the Army, and navy blue for the Navy. Superimposed on the shield is a pen and a sword crossed diagonally, suggesting the union of knowledge and military strength. Behind these elements appears a stylised wheel, representing continuity, discipline, and progress. The shield is encircled by golden wreaths, a traditional emblem of honour and achievement, while the star and crescent at the top suggests the national identity of Pakistan. عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ٥ The emblem incorporates the university's Quranic verse: "taught man that which he knew not" (Al-Quran, 96:5), denoting the institution's role in the advancement of learning alongside professional military education.

Composition

The NDU is headed by the chancellor, the president of Pakistan, and administered by the president of NDU, a three-star military officer (lieutenant general or equivalent) who serves as the chief executive and commandant of the institution. He is assisted by a deputy president (a two-star officer). The university is organized into three major academic and research divisions: the Faculty of Security Studies (FSS), the Faculty of Contemporary Studies (FCS), and the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA). Each division is overseen by a dean or director general, and houses several colleges, departments, or research branches. Together, these units integrate military education, policy research, and academic studies under a unified framework.

Faculty of Security Studies (FSS)

The faculty is headed by a dean, provides professional military education for senior officers. It comprises the following:

• National Security College – conducts courses on national security policy, strategy, and statecraft for senior military and civil officers.
• Armed Forces War College – offers higher military education at the operational and strategic levels, preparing officers for senior command and staff positions.
• Allied Officers Division (AOD) – trains officers from allied and partner nations, promoting military diplomacy and international cooperation.

Faculty of Contemporary Studies (FCS)

The Faculty of Contemporary Studies, also led by a dean, delivers academic programs in social sciences and policy studies. Its departments include:

• Department of Government and Public Policy (GPP) – focuses on governance, public administration, and policy analysis.
• Department of Peace and Conflict Studies (PCS) – specializes in conflict resolution, mediation, and peacebuilding.
• Department of Strategic Studies (SS) – engages in the study of strategy, defence policy, and international security.
• Department of Leadership and Management Studies (LMS) – provides training in organizational leadership, management sciences, and project management.
• Department of International Relations (IR) – covers global politics, diplomacy, and foreign policy analysis.

Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA)

The Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis is headed by a director general (a two-star officer) and functions as the premier think tank of NDU. It consists of several specialized divisions:

• Global and Regional Studies – analyzing international and regional strategic trends.
• Internal Security Studies – focusing on domestic security challenges and counter-terrorism.
• Defence and Strategic Studies – examining defence policies and strategic doctrines.
• Coordination and Collaboration – overseeing academic and institutional partnerships.
• Research and Publication – producing academic and policy-oriented publications.
• Keystone, Capstone and Pinnacle Program – advanced courses for senior leadership and policymakers.
• Centre of Excellence for International Law – dedicated to research and training in international legal frameworks.
• Sahabzada Yaqub Khan Library – the university's central research library and archival resource.

Constituent colleges

The NDU maintains several constituent colleges that provide professional military education to officers from different branches of the Pakistan Armed Forces. These colleges operate under the academic umbrella of NDU and are accredited to award postgraduate qualifications. The constituent colleges are:

Command and Staff College, Quetta – the premier institution for training mid-career Pakistan Army officers, preparing them for command and staff appointments at the operational level.

Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore – the principal higher education institution of the Pakistan Navy, focusing on maritime strategy, naval operations, and leadership.

School of Artillery, Nowshera – the army's central training establishment for artillery officers, responsible for professional gunnery, firepower coordination, and tactical employment of artillery forces.

Facilities

Library

The university maintains a central library that houses both print and digital resources. Its print collection consists of approximately 70,000 volumes, including books, back issues of periodicals, professional journals, government publications, reports, and newspapers. In addition, the library provides access to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan's National Digital Library, which offers thousands of electronic books and scholarly journals.

The library also operates a Digital section, which serves as a resource centre for selected books, periodicals, newspaper articles, university publications, and links to international databases. It maintains digital newspaper clipping files on subjects of topical interest. In addition to the main collection, the university runs a fiction library, catering to general reading, and each college within NDU maintains its own seminar library to support specialized academic needs.

National War Gaming Centre

The NDU operates the National War Gaming Centre (NWGC), which is equipped with the joint theater level simulation (JTLS) system, a NATO-standard computer-assisted war-gaming platform. The centre is used by the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force to conduct strategic and operational-level exercises. It provides a simulated environment for war planning, military operations other than war, and disaster management scenarios.

Halls and auditoria

The NDU maintains several halls and auditoria that are used for teaching, research events, and professional training.

• Auditorium – The main auditorium serves as a venue for combined lectures, discussions, and extracurricular activities. It can accommodate around 560 participants and is fitted with audiovisual facilities to support large gatherings.

• NS Hall – Operated by the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA), it is used for seminars, international conferences, and workshops, including the National Security Workshop, the National Media Workshop, and senior professional development courses.

• National Defence Hall (ND Hall) – it is primarily used by the Armed Forces War College for academic instruction. It hosts lectures, panel discussions, study sessions, and student presentations.

• ISSRA Hall – It is reserved for ISSRA's in-house academic activities, such as local seminars, conferences, post-visit briefings, and exchanges with think tanks.

Mapping section

The Mapping section provides cartographic support for academic and training activities. It is responsible for producing maps required for courses and exercises.

Academic profile

Teaching and degrees

The National Defence University's contemporary studies faculty award bachelor's, master of philosophy and doctorate degrees in various academic fields such as international relations, and public policy among others.

Faculty of Contemporary Studies

• ECONOMICS (ECO)
  • BS
  • M.Phill
  • Ph.D
• Leadership and Management Studies (LMS)
  • BS
  • M.Phil
  • MS-PM
  • Ph.D
• Government and Public Policy (GPP)
  • BS
  • M.Phill
  • Ph.D
• Strategic Studies (SS)
  • BS
  • M.Phill
  • Ph.D
• International Relations (IR)
  • BS
  • M.Phill
  • Ph.D
• Peace and Conflict Studies (PCS)
  • BS
  • M.Phill
  • Ph.D

Role as a think tank

The NDU's wing Institute for Strategic Studies, Research & Analysis (ISSRA) acts as a national think tank on national security matters, and is reportedly an internal part of the National Security Division, headed by a national security division secretary. Inputs are provided to the government and armed forces to maintains academic links with domestic and foreign think tanks and defence universities with which Pakistan shares friendly relations.

List of presidents/commandants

Notable alumni

Throughout its history from a college to university, some of its alumni and faculty members became notable in academic, politics, military and many other varied fields. Many Pakistani generals, including Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Ehsan ul Haq, and Raheel Sharif attended the National Defence University. Kayani graduated from National Defence College and also remained faculty member of the university. Ehsan ul Haq graduated from NDU and Command and Staff College, Quetta, an affiliated institute of the university. Raheel Sharif is among the other generals who attended the university.

In addition to Pakistani generals, some alumni from the naval department became notable in their respective fields. Admiral Afzal Tahir graduated from the National Defence College, while Shahid Karimullah, attended armed forces war course department of the National Defence College. Zafar Mahmood Abbasi is also an alumnus of the university while Amjad Khan Niazi graduated from NDU and Command and Staff College.

Musharraf, the 10th president of Pakistan graduated from the National Defence College and Command and Staff College, Quetta, an affiliated institute of NDU.

Publications

• NDU Journal is an annual feature of the university which is based on the research papers by the students, researchers, and policy makers. The publications provide ideas on issues of national security of Pakistan. Before an article is published in the journal, it is single peer reviewed.
  • Margalla Papers is biannual publication, concerning contemporary global politics, globalization, foreign policy, strategic alliance, economic partnerships, and regional organization. It also involves the role of United Nations peacekeeping, law of nations and global commons.
  • ISSRA Paper is an annual academic publication of Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA). It cover the issues relating governance, public policy, in addition to promotion of awareness to that issues. It is contributed by anyone, however articles are single peer-reviewed before they appear in journal.
    • NDU Monograph is a scholarly journal of ISSRA. It is contributed by the researchers on military issues and collaboration.
    • Strategic Thought is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA). It focuses on security and strategic studies, including topics such as foreign policy, defense planning, regional geopolitics, and national security. The journal publishes original research articles and policy analyses, aiming to bridge the gap between strategic practice and theory.
  • AFWC Journal is a journal of Armed Force War Course which publishes the public opinions contributed by the participants.
• The Journal of Contemporary Studies (JCS) is a biannual peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Faculty of Contemporary Studies (FCS). Established in 2012, it covers research in international relations, political science, security, and strategic studies, and publishes articles, book reviews, and scholarly documents in English.

References

Notes

References

1. (2021-09-10). "PAKISTAN ARMY".
2. (2021-03-21). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
3. Reddy, B. Muralidhar. (2011-05-25). "Pakistan's military officers, seen through American eyes".
4. (2019-04-24). "NDU Islamabad: Here's Everything You Need To Know About It".
5. "President of the National Defence University". www.ndu.edu.pk.
6. (2019-04-08). "Universities".
7. "National Defence University background".
8. (2020-10-27). "Acts, ordinances, president's orders and regulations".
9. (2021-03-21). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
10. (2021-03-21). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
11. (2025-04-14). "National Defence University".
12. (2025-04-14). "National Defence University".
13. (2025-04-14). "Faculty of Contemporary Studies".
14. (2025-06-01). "Institute For Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis".
15. (2024-09-27). "NDU Library Islamabad Pakistan".
16. (2012-08-11). "College History – Command and Staff College Quetta".
17. (2023-12-22). "Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore".
18. (2024-12-15). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
19. (2020-07-12). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
20. Kartha, Tara. (2021-03-20). "Pakistan's changing idea of national security".
21. Noor, Sitara. (2021-03-28). "Democratising the debate".
22. "President".
23. (2024-12-15). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
24. Ahmed, Raja Furqan. (2025-01-22). "High-level transfers, postings in army – The Pakistan Daily".
25. Pike, John. (2007-11-29). "Ashfaq Parvez Kayani".
26. (2004-10-03). "New JCSC chief, VCOAS appointed".
27. Pike, John. (1970-01-01). "Chief of Army Staff (COAS)".
28. (2005-09-24). "Vice Admiral Afzal appointed Naval chief".
29. (2002-10-04). "New navy chief named".
30. Web Desk. (2017-10-07). "Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi assumes command of Pakistan Navy".
31. (2020-10-07). "Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi assumes command as Chief of Naval Staff".
32. "Pervez Musharraf giography".
33. (2021-03-21). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
34. (2021-03-21). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
35. (2021-03-21). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
36. (2021-03-21). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
37. (2021-04-08). "Strategic Thought".
38. (2021-03-21). "National Defence University, Islamabad".
39. (2021-11-04). "Journal of Contemporary Studies".