According to a statement issued following the meeting said it was agreed that the COAS will have the authority to decide on the quantum, composition and positioning of military effort.
The meeting agreed that the principle of use of minimum force and avoidance of collateral damage will be kept in focus, initiate swift operations based on actionable intelligence to eliminate terrorists and stop hostile movement across the border for operations against US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan; decide on the level of liaison, contact and co-operation with Isaf in Afghanistan and keep the government appropriately informed; and keep the prime minister, the NWFP governor, the defence minister, and PM's adviser on interior informed about the operations.
NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Environment Minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Safron Minister Najamuddin Khan, PM's Advisor on national security Mahmud Ali Durrani, PM's Advisor on interior Rehman Malik, COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, and ISI DS attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed progress in the war on terror and the law and order situation in NWFP. It unanimously agreed that elimination of terrorism and extremism is the gravest challenge to country's national security and to fight this menace a multi-pronged strategy will be followed.
The main thrust of Pakistan's policy to counter this challenge will be political engagement of the people through their elected representatives, tribal elders and local influential. It was also agreed that in addition to the political instrument, large-scale development, economic, empowerment and selective use of military force will be the other prongs of the strategy.
It was decided that the broad objective of this strategy will be to bring about peace, reconciliation and normalcy of life in the country and marginalize the hard core terrorist, militants and criminal elements, so that Pakistan's national interest could reign supreme.
The meeting decided to ensure that local tribal customs, traditions and Rivaj are respected by all representatives of the government, including the military and law enforcement agencies and ensure that all foreign fighters will be expelled from Pakistan's territory.
It decided that Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used against other countries, especially Afghanistan and under no circumstances will foreign troops be allowed to operate inside Pakistan.
It was decided that while the provincial governments will be responsible for their jurisdictions, the NWFP governor will be the chief co-ordinator for all activity in Fata and maintain intimate liaison with the federal government, provincial governments, important political leaders and the local military commander.
The meeting decided that the NWFP governor in consultation with the federal and provincial governments will remain responsible for planning, execution, and co-ordination of a well-thought out, comprehensive development plan in Fata. All agreements with the tribes in Fata will be backed by a robust enforcement mechanism. It was decided in case of non-compliance and violation of the agreement, the government will reserve the right to use force.
The meeting decided that the NWFP governor will also lead all reconciliatory efforts, making sure that the political agreements made with the tribes are based on mutual respect and trust drawing strength from the Riwaj; expulsion of foreign fighters will be the responsibility of tribes and they will be held accountable for the presence as well as actions of all foreign fighters.
The tribes will also be responsible for stopping cross-border movement for militancy across the border from their areas. However this will require intimate co-ordination between the political and the military/security prongs of the effort.
It was decided the that tribes will not fight or target the Army, Frontier Corps and other law-enforcement agencies in their areas. They will be made to understand that the use of the force by the military will be justified if the tribes act contrary to their obligations.
It was decided that the Chief of Army Staff will be the principal for application of the military effort. Although Frontier Corps NWFP and law-enforcement agencies will be the instruments of the governor and the chief minister of NWFP in their respective jurisdiction for law and order, they will fall under his command for military operations.