ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met on Thursday Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif as part of ongoing consultations over security in tribal areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Security situation in Karachi and Balochistan was also discussed.

“Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif called on the Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at the PM House today. Army Chief briefed the Prime Minister on the security situation in Karachi, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Thursday’s North Waziristan attack which left nine soldiers dead dominated the discussion at the meeting.

The statement quoted the prime minister as saying that “sacrifices rendered by our patriotic soldiers will not go in vain”.

Gen Sharif is said to have reiterated concerns about ongoing Taliban attacks against the army in tribal areas while the government has been trying to engage the TTP in dialogue.

“The attacks are taking place. It will impact the process,” a source at the prime minister’s office said about the future prospects of the government-militant talks.

In a public statement on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day ceremony, the army chief had warned militants of a tough response if they did not give up violence.