Coalition leaders given account of security threats

ISLAMABAD—Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has given briefing to prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, heads of allied parties of ruling coalition and key ministers of cabinet on peace and security situation here in Prime Minister House Wednesday.
Besides prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif and PML-N president Mian Shahbaz Sharif, ANP president Asfand Yar Wali Khan, JUI-F president Maulana Fazlur Rehman, senior federal minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, defence minister Ahmad Mukhtar, foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Rehman Malik, advisor to prime minister on interior were also present on the occasion.
Director General Military Operations, Maj Gen Shuja, director general MI Maj Gen Nadeem Ejaz and ISI chief Lt Gen Nadeem Taj also attended the briefing.
Sources told Online General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani during his briefing took the prime minister and leadership of ruling coalition on law and order situation, security of the country and ongoing military operation in tribal areas on Pak-Afghan borders. He also highlighted various matters with reference to cooperation with US in war on terror. He also presented important evidence to leadership of the country on foreign interference from the side of Afghanistan inside Pakistan borders
Sources told political leadership ahead of COAS briefing held mutual consultation on the question of talks process to maintain law and order situation in tribal areas. It was agreed upon by all that ANP leadership could play effective role on this count. Therefore, ANP leadership would hold talks in future with tribal dignitaries. Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani said country’s integrity and security was dearer to us than all other things. Government can also not overlook national security. Terrorism is a serious issue. But use of force is not solution to it, he stressed. “We will have to consider other aspects too to curb this menace, he underlined.
During the briefing Maulana Fazlur Rehman underscored the need for continuation of dialogue process in order to maintain law and orders situation adding Jirga system be strengthened in these areas as this could be proved more effective. The loss to life and property occurred in terror related incidents was also reviewed. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kyani held meeting with President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday and briefed him on matters of national security He met the president after briefing the ruling alliance and federal cabinet on national security. Well-placed Sources told Online that the meeting lasted for quite a while in which host of issues including current political scenario, security situation, country’s integrity, ongoing military operation near Pak-Afghan Border in Tribal Areas.
President thanked Pervez Kiyani for the briefing and expressed hope that the present Government would continue war on terror adding that if the new Government decides to change the policies on war on terror then ground realities will be kept in view, sources told. Chief of Army Staff briefed the President twice on matters of National Security in which matters relating to Armed Forces also came under discussion

.—Agencies