ISLAMABAD, Feb 27 (APP): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi here Tuesday chairs the 19th meeting of National Security Committee to review the current international and regional situation.
The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the three Services Chiefs.
The Committee was briefed on the current international and regional situation particularly on relations with regional countries.
The Foreign Minister briefed the Committee on his recent successful visit to Russia and recalled the desire of the two countries to further strengthen bilateral relations in all areas.
The Committee agreed on the importance of recalibrating the foreign policy framework to bring more focus on countries of the region. It was agreed to launch new initiatives to enhance economic partnerships with friendly countries in the region and beyond for a win-win cooperation.
The Committee also reiterated the significance of CPEC and the benefits it brings to the development of Pakistan, the region and beyond. The participants agreed on further strengthening the CPEC cooperation as the flagship program of OBOR initiative.
The Committee reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding interest in lasting peace in Afghanistan. It stressed the importance of peace among the Afghan people through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned national peace and reconciliation process.
The Committee underscored the need for consistent and continued engagement with Afghanistan. The importance of effective border management as well as time bound repatriation of Afghan refugees to Afghanistan in a dignified manner was also emphasized.
The Committee condemned the unprovoked Indian ceasefire violations along the LoC and Working Boundary. More than 400 ceasefire violations in 2018 alone had resulted in the Shahadats of and injuries to scores of innocent civilians. The Committee observed that through consistent ceasefire violations, the Indian government was trying to divert the international attention from blatant human rights violations in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India must give priority to peace.
The Committee agreed that Pakistan will continue its fight against terrorism and extremism in the interest of its people. Our policies will continue to be formulated and implemented in light of our national interests.
APP/Ahsan
