Negotiations with Taliban first priority, decides NSC

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting here on Tuesday in which important decisions were taken regarding the security situation of the country, ARY News reports.

In the meeting, important decisions were taken on peace talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), bilateral relations with Afghanistan and Internal security situation. Negotiations with Taliban have been given the first priority and the last option will only be utilized during abnormal situation, a spokesman of the Federal Government said.

The spokesman further said that the security has been stepped up at the Pak-Afghan border in order to stop the criminal elements from acting on both sides. He added that serious efforts will be made for bilateral ties with Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a one on one meeting with the Army Chief General Raheel Sharif before the committee meeting.

Top political and military leaders including Federal Defense Minister Khwaja Asif, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Information Minister Pervez Rasheed, PM’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz, Heads of the three armed forces, Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Zaheer-ul-Islam, Foreign Secretary, Interior Secretary, and Defense Secretary were present in the meeting.

DG Military and Interior Secretary briefed the meeting regarding the domestic situation and National Security Policy.