RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The country’s civil and military leadership on Tuesday resolved to protect the core national interests and effectively countering any negative outside influence, said a press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The resolve was expressed when a high level meeting between civil and military leadership was held at the army’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi on Monday to discuss issues related to national security, said the press release.
The Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry attended the meeting.
From military side, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar and other senior military officials participated in the meeting.
The participants of the meeting dwelt at length on various issues related to external and internal security situation of the country including China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The ISPR said that during the meeting, it was noted with satisfaction that successes of operation Zarb-e-Azb had been phenomenal and it was agreed that our achievements in bringing stability in the country will have to be sustained whatever it takes.
The meeting also took cognisance of ongoing regional developments and inimical designs against our stability and prosperity.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to enduring regional peace, it was underlined that hostile intelligence agencies and their facilitators will not be allowed to foment trouble inside Pakistan.
The meeting expressed its concern on May 21 US drone strike, saying it was a clear violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty affecting mutual trust and undermined the spirit of Afghan Peace Process under mutually agreed Quadrilateral framework.
