Pakistan's top civil-military leadership discusses national security

Islamabad: A high-level meeting of the top civil and military leadership here on Tuesday discussed issues relating to national security, an Inter-Services Public Relations official said.

Those present at the meeting in twin-city Rawalpindi included Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, National Security Advisor Nisar Janjua, Prime Minister`s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif and Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence Maj. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar besides senior military officials.

The meeting stressed that "hostile intelligence agencies" and their facilitators would not be allowed to "foment trouble inside Pakistan", ISPR said in a statement.

Issues relating to the country`s internal and external security, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, were also discussed.

The meeting expressed concern over the May 21 US drone strike targeting former Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Mansour in Balochistan, saying it was a clear violation of Pakistan`s sovereignty, affected mutual trust and undermined the spirit of the Afghan peace process under the mutually agreed framework decided by the Quadrilateral Coordination Group.

The meeting also took cognisance of ongoing regional developments and inimical designs against the country`s stability and prosperity.

The leadership resolved to protect the country`s core national interests and effectively counter negative external influence.

The meeting comes as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was recovering from open-heart surgery in London. Sharif was discharged from hospital on Monday after a week-long stay following his surgery.