Security panel sets up body to devise strategy after Trump remarks
islamabad — Pakistan’s top-level security forum has set up a special committee to formulate measures in the wake of criticism by US President Donald Trump about militant safe havens in the country.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired the 13th meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) held at the PM House.
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting reviewed the internal and external security situation as well as threats and challenges to national security in the evolving regional and global context.
It said US President Donald Trump’s policy on South Asia was also discussed and the meeting “decided to set up an inter-agency sub-committee to make specific proposals” for consideration in the next meeting of the NSC.
The sub-committee should also take up the recommendations of the forthcoming Envoys’ Conference of select missions scheduled for September 5 to 7.
The NSC also reviewed the armed forces development plan and “decided to keep a robust defence posture to ensure national security in a challenging environment”.
It was the second NSC meeting since Trump unveiled his new Afghan policy in which he severely criticised Pakistan for hosting terror safe heavens and supporting terrorist organisations.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has passed a resolution condemning US President Donald Trump’s accusations that Islamabad was prolonging the war in Afghanistan, denouncing them as “hostile” and “threatening”.
Speaking before the assembly, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif Asif urged the government to consider postponing any visits by US delegations to Pakistan or by Pakistani officials to the United States and closing off “ground and air lines of communication through Pakistan”.
On Sunday, the foreign office announced that it had postponed a visit by a US acting Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells to discuss Washington’s new Afghan policy, but at the time did not provide a reason. —