The civil and military leadership on Friday decided not to accept the Indian demand to keep the proposed national security advisers (NSA) meeting in New Delhi limited to the issue of terrorism and resolved that the talks should include all bilateral disputes, including that of Kashmir.
According to the PM House, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a high-level meeting to review the security situation in the country. The meeting also deliberated various aspects of internal security and discussed implementation of the National Action Plan, the statement said.
The meeting was attended by army chief General Raheel Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Adviser to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, and Special Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.
According to sources, the leaders discussed India’s proposed agenda for the NSA meeting. In the agenda, India has advised Sartaj Aziz not to meet Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders and to remain focused on terror related issues.
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The civil and military leadership resolved not to fall into the Indian trap to discuss only the issue of terrorism but said Islamabad should also broach all bilateral international disputes with New Delhi. They reiterated that Pakistan should adopt an aggressive approach with India on terrorism related issues and a give-and-take policy on international disputes.
The participants said India’s offensive approach towards Pakistan could only be countered by Pakistan’s aggressive approach on terrorism related issues as it could break the Indian mantra on terrorism and help pave way for talks on bilateral disputes.
It was agreed that Pakistan would take up all bilateral disputes including Kahsmir, Sir Creek and Siachen. It was decided that Pakistan will take up the issue of release of the Samjhota Express incident’s alleged mastermind to counter-balance the release of Mumbai attacks alleged mastermind, Zakiur Rehman.
The participants also agreed to highlight Indian involvement in Balcohsitan to counter Indian allegations of Pakistani involvement in the recent Gurdaspsur incident.
The participants also discussed India’s new offensive and its maneuvering in the region to form a new regional South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) by excluding Pakistan. The new regional Saarc will work under the main Saarc but will not include Pakistan.
Sources said Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and even Iran are with India and they might announce it soon. In view of the developing situation, the civil military leadership devised various options to counter the move.
Afghanistan peace talks
Sources said the civil and military leadership also discussed Afghan issue in detail. They noted that Pakistan is willing to help resume talks between Afghan Taliban and Afghan government but the Afghan government is not serious in talks particularly after the death of the Afghan Taliban supreme leader Mullah Muhammad Omar.
They also observed that the Taliban have intensified their attacks against Afghan government due to their internal rift and to reassert their power of resistance.
Operation in Shawal Valley
The civil and military leaders agreed that the initiation of ground offensive in Shawal Valley would satisfy the Afghan government which blames Pakistan for not taking action against Afghan Taliban sheltering in Pakistan.
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The military leadership informed civilian leadership that Shawal ground offensive is not the final phase of operation Zarb-e-Azb but the operation will continue against all types of terrorism.
Security in Punjab, Karachi
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif briefed the participants about security situation in Punjab in the wake of the killing of Punjab home minister Col (retd) Shuja Khanzada and vowed that all sectarian culprits will be apprehended.
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