November 06, 2007	Tuesday	Shawwal 24, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: Top army commanders and senior ministers attended a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Defence held on Monday with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the chair.

Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani also attended the meeting, which discussed the security situation in the aftermath of the proclamation of emergency in the country, sources said.

Mr Aziz said Pakistan would continue the policy of maintaining a minimum credible defence system for ensuring peace and stability in the region, adding that a strong and credible defence was the ultimate guarantee of peace.

According to an official handout, the prime minister said Pakistan did not have any aggressive designs against any country and believed in peaceful settlements of disputes through diplomacy.

He said the government was fully cognizant of the country’s defence needs and would take all necessary resources to modernise and upgrade its armed forces.

He lauded the army’s role during the flood that hit various parts of the country. He commended the efforts of the armed forces in facilitating the rehabilitation and reconstruction work in quake-affected areas.