ISLAMABAD: National Security Committee (NSC) met here under chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and reviewed country's economic and security situation. Federal ministers, service chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies attended meeting.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar briefed participants about economic situation and challenges of country and briefed participants about economic strategy and measures adopted by government.

Heads of intelligence agencies gave briefing on overall law and order situation in country and informed meeting about factors behind recent wave of terrorism and measures to deal with them.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar briefed meeting on situation in Afghanistan and informed about Pakistan's relations with interim government of Afghanistan.

Meeting expressed an unequivocal opinion that Pakistan's national interests would not be compromised and no one would be allowed to harm national security. It was stressed that interests of Pakistan's survival, security and development would be protected with great courage, consistency and steadfastness.

وزیراعظم شہبازشریف کی زیرصدارت نیشنل سکیورٹی کمیٹی (این۔ایس۔سی) کا اہم اجلاس منعقد ہوا۔ اجلاس میں وفاقی وزرا، سروسز چیفس اورانٹیلی جنس اداروں کے سربراہان نے شرکت کی۔ اجلاس نے ملکی معیشت اور امن وامان کا تفصیل سے جائزہ لیا۔ pic.twitter.com/fAqBSnwdKs

— President PMLN (@president_pmln) December 30, 2022

Meeting paid tribute to great sacrifices of martyrs who lost their lives in terrorist incidents and expressed sympathy. Meeting termed terrorists as enemies of Pakistan and expressed resolve to eliminate them. It was emphasised that entire nation was united on common narrative against terrorism and terrorists. Meeting of National Security Committee will finalise its decisions on Monday in line with recommendations. The decision to convene the meeting of the NSC was taken in a meeting between PM Shehbaz and Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir on Thursday, according to a Dawn report.

The meeting between the two took place a day after the corps commanders’ conference at the General Headquarters where the surge in terrorism incidents dominated the agenda. Over the past few months, the law and order situation in the country has worsened, with terrorist groups like the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Islamic State group, and Gul Bahadur Group executing attacks with near impunity across the country. Insurgents in Balochistan have also stepped up their violent activities and formalised a nexus with the TTP.

The incident at the Khyber-Pakh­tunkhwa police’s Counter-Terrorism Dep­art­ment interrogation centre in Bannu and the botched suicide bombing attempt in Islamabad not only set off alarm bells in the power corridors but also left several countries worried about the security of their nationals.

The US, UK, Australia and Saudi Arabia have issued advisories, asking their nationals to restrict movements in Pakistan and avoid non-essential trips.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 31 2022

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