NSC discusses internal, external security challenges

An in-camera meeting of the National Security Committee, which met in Islamabad on Wednesday with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair, held a detailed discussion on talks with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and situation along the Pak-Afghan border.

National, parliamentary and political leadership, members of parliament and military leadership attended the meeting.

The meeting was briefed about the overall security situation in the country including the internal and external security threats faced by it and steps taken by relevant security institutions to deal with them.

The meeting was also briefed on administrative matters of Pakistan-Afghanistan border maintaining that Pakistan has always played a very responsible and positive role for peace and stability in Afghanistan and will continue to do so.

The meeting expressed the confidence that the Afghan soil will not be allowed to be used against Pakistan.

The meeting maintained that Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in war against terrorism have been acknowledged by the world.

It maintained that due to matchless sacrifices of the people and security forces of Pakistan and state functionaries, peace and normalcy has been restored and there is no organized network of terrorists in the country.

The meeting was briefed about the details of talks with the TTP, all the backgrounds in which these talks started and the different periods during it.

The meeting was informed that talks are underway with the TTP, facilitated by the Afghan authorities, in which a government-led committee comprising civil and military representatives is negotiating within the framework of the Constitution of Pakistan. However, any final decision will be made within the contours of the Constitution of Pakistan with the approval of the Parliament.

The political leadership expressed satisfaction over the strategy and progress made in this regard so far.

Later, briefing media in Islamabad this evening, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, along with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, said it was decided that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will take the parliamentarians into confidence in an in-camera session of the parliament to be held soon.

Regarding former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s diatribes about reforms in the National Accountability law, Rana Sanaullah said NAB law has been amended as per spirit of the Criminal Procedure Code, reducing the remand period from 90 to 14 days. He said every citizen, including front men of Imran Khan, will benefit from these amendments. He said Imran Khan is trying to mislead the nation regarding reforms in NAB law to build a new narrative.

Source: Radio Pakistan