The military top brass on Friday reviewed the country’s internal and external security situation along with the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan, resolving that Pakistan would facilitate the Afghan government’s peace dialogue with the Taliban and take all possible steps to make it successful.
The 155th Corps Commanders’ Conference was held at General Headquarters with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in the chair. The conference was part of regular monthly meetings, according to an ISPR spokesman. He said, “The forum took a comprehensive overview of the routine professional matters aimed at enhancing proficiency of the army.”
“The participants of the conference were also briefed about internal and external security situation of the country,” he said. A official seeking anonymity said the meeting of senior military commanders discussed in detail the Afghanistan reconciliation process launched to bring various Taliban groups to the table of negotiations so that the war and strife could be ended in the neighbouring state.
General Kayani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar were recently in Brussels to discuss the Afghanistan situation, especially the American exit strategy for 2014 from the war-torn country with the NATO and US officials. The official said that the army chief briefed the commanders on his meetings in Brussels. “The commanders observed that the Afghanistan problem should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and Pakistan was willing to play its due role in this regard,” he said. He said the army leadership was of the view that there must be responsible US exit from Afghanistan, as continued war and instability in Afghanistan w uld harm regional peace and stability. He said the cross-border militant attacks from Afghanistan on Pakistani border posts in Dir, Chitral and Bajaur Agency were also deliberated upon in the military commanders’ meeting. “The meeting was told that the matter of cross-border attacks by terrorists on Pakistani border posts had been taken up with the US and Afghan authorities and it is hoped that immediate preventive measures shall be taken on their part to stop these assaults,” the official said. He said the military commanders’ meeting also reviewed in detail the ongoing military actions against the militants in the Tribal Areas, with a resolve that all possible steps would be taken to defeat the scourge of terrorism. “The participants of Corps Commanders’ meeting also discussed the latest situation on the country’s border with India,” the official said. Apart from that, he said the military commanders also discussed the recent Supreme Court’s orders to the Election Commission of Pakistan (EC) to use the army for verification of voters’ lists in Karachi. “The military leadership observed that Pakistan Army would play its role within the constitutional limits whenever it is required,” the official said.
