Civil, military officials for cooperation with Kabul to remove terror support networks in Afghanistan

Top-level civil and military officials during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad on Wednesday resolved to work with the Afghan government for the resolution of issues including cross-border firing and the “support network in Afghanistan for terrorist incidents in Pakistan”, a press handout said.The officials reaffirmed their continued commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process, according to the statement. “The forum resolved to work at all levels with the people and government of Afghanistan for removal of all irritants including repeated cross-border fire and support network in Afghanistan for terrorist incidents in Pakistan,” the statement said. Attendees of the NSC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reviewed the country’s internal and external security situation and foreign policy imperatives within a regional and global context. The officials also expressed concern over the increasing frequency of ceasefire violations across the Line of Control and strongly condemned human rights violations of the people of India-held Kashmir, according to the statement.The participants of the meet- ing reiterated that regional peace and progress was directly linked to resolution of all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir issue. They expressed satisfaction over the gains of anti-terrorism operations particularly Raddul Fasaad and Khyber-4, and resolved to continue the operations until terrorism is completely eliminated. Attendees of the meeting included Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, National Security Advisor Lt. Gen (R) Nasser Khan Janjua, and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence Lt. Gen. Naveed Mukhtar.