ISLAMABAD: The National Security Committee (NSC) on Wednesday agreed on a robust response to the new US policy on South Asia by formulating a mechanism to suggest specific proposals to deal with Trump’s policy on South Asia and Pakistan’s way forward.
The National Security Committee meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while reviewing the armed forces development plan also decided to keep a robust defence posture to ensure national security in a challenging environment.
The committee reviewed internal and external security situation and threats and challenges to national security in the evolving regional and global context. It was the second meeting of the NSC in a week.
The meeting discussed the Trump policy on South Asia and decided to set up an interagency sub-committee to make specific proposals for consideration in the next meeting of the NSC along with recommendations of the forthcoming envoys’ conference of select missions, that is scheduled for September 5-7.
The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
The participants also included Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, National Security Adviser Lt Gen (r) Nasser Khan Janjua and senior civil and military officials.
It may be mentioned here that the prime minister had also chaired the federal cabinet’s meeting the other day over the issue. During last week’s meeting of the NSC, it was decided to contact other friendly countries and take all stakeholders into confidence regarding Pakistan’s reservations over the new US policy.
Prime Minister in an interview to a foreign media outlet had harshly criticised Trump’s Afghan policy, saying that it was doomed to fail.
Meanwhile, Adviser to PM on Political Affairs Amir Muqam calls on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Islamabad.
Overall political situation and development projects of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were discussed during the meeting.
Member of National Assembly Sheikh Rohail Asghar also called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Islamabad.
Sheikh Rohail briefed the prime minister on the development schemes of his constituency.
It may be mentioned here that last week, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa reacted to Donald Trump’s remarks against Pakistan by saying that there were no safe havens for terrorists in Pakistan, and that the country’s military had conducted decisive operations against militants of all hue and colour.
Talking to a delegation of Afghan media, the army chief said that terrorists were the common enemy of all, against which a trust-based coordinated response was required rather than blame game.
He had made it clear that the Pakistan Army had conducted operations against militants and terrorists without any discrimination.
“There are no safe havens for terrorists in Pakistan nor is Pakistani soil being used for terrorist activities inside Afghanistan.”
General Bajwa had said that efficient and proper border management between Pakistan and Afghanistan was the need of the hour. He emphasised the need for an effective management system along Pak-Afghan border for which Pakistan had taken effective measures on its side, including fencing and establishment of new border forts and posts.
Later, addressing Quadrilateral Counter Terrorism Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the army chief said that Pakistan couldn’t bring Afghan war into Pakistan. He also highlighted achievements of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism for eliminating terrorists’ safe havens from its soil. He said that terrorism being a transnational threat could only be defeated through intelligence sharing and coordinated effective border management.
Published in Daily Times, August 31st 2017.
