The meeting was attended by Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif, Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Minister for Information Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Ishaq Dar, Minister Finance, Tariq Fatmi Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Lieutenant General Zahir-ul-Islam, DG Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Ashfaq Nadeem, CGS, Major General Amir Riaz, DG MO and Major General Sarfaraz Sattar, DG Military Intelligence (MI).
INP adds: Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on Thursday called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House to hold discussion related to the national security and terrorism. This one-to-one meeting is considered crucial especially in the backdrop of recent increase in the incidents of terrorism including attacks on the armed forces.
A private news channel quoting sources reported that during the meeting civilian and military leadership agreed that negotiations will only be held with those who are willing to talk within the ambit of constitution while anti-state elements will be dealt with through force.
Armed forces of Pakistan have also carried out retaliatory operation in North Waziristan tribal agency in which scores of terrorists are reportedly killed. Sources said that prime minister and army chief in their meeting would finalise a strategy to deal with terrorists. They said important decisions are also likely to be taken to improve overall national security.