ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: In his capacity as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Ehsanul Haq presided over the first meeting of the top military commanders of the three services at the Joint Staff Headquarters here on Monday.

The chiefs of Pakistan Navy and Air Force and the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) attended the meeting. Gen Haq assumed the new post on Oct 8 this year. It was also the first time that Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat attended the JCSC meeting in his capacity as the VCOAS.

For all practical purposes, the VCOAS performs the functions of the COAS in his absence, said an official when asked why the meeting of the "Chiefs of Staff" was not attended by the COAS.

Sources said matters relating to defence requirements of the country, including progress on procurement of new weapons systems, were discussed at the meeting. According to a press release issued by the ISPR, the meeting held at the Joint Staff Headquarters in Chaklala was also attended by secretary defence and other senior civil and military officers.