ISLAMABAD: Meeting of the civilian and military leadership led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters on Friday concluded with the two expressing strong resolve to eradicate terrorism from the country, senior security sources told Dawn.

During the meeting centered on national security, the leadership agreed that no leniency would be extended to terrorists and tough steps would be taken in this regard.

The army chief also took the premier into confidence over his meetings with the Afghan leadership.

It was also decided that security at the Pak-Afghan border would be tightened in order to restrain cross-border movement of militants.

The meeting also decided that the operation being conducted in North Waziristan and Khyber would be expanded and militant hideouts would be targeted in Tirah valley of Khyber as well as in other tribal areas in the next stage of Zarb-i-Azb.

Government assured the armed forces that all necessary resources, information and cooperation would be extended for the elimination of terrorists. The prime minister also assured the military leadership that required amendments would be made in anti-terror laws.

It was also decided that intelligence-sharing between civilian and military intelligence agencies would be strengthened to trace militants and their hideouts in tribal areas as well as in major cities.

The meeting, headed by the prime minister, came hours after General Sharif approved the execution of six terrorists sentenced to death by military courts.

Also read | After Peshawar: Reassessing the terror threat

Sources told Dawn that the six included convicts in cases relating to the GHQ attack, Jhanda Chichi, Pervez Musharraf attack and attack on a military camp near River Chenab (Gujrat). They had been given death sentences by the Field General Court Martial under the Army Act.

Moreover, another source claimed that convicts in the Gujrat military camp attack were also on the execution list.

The army chief's approval of their executions came a day after the prime minister lifted the moratorium on capital punishment in the country, calls for which had come in the aftermath of the deadly siege of the school in Peshawar.

More on this: Death for terrorism

32 suspected terrorists killed in ground action in Tirah: ISPR

At least 32 suspected militants were killed in ground action by security forces in the Tirah valley area of Khyber tribal region on Friday, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The statement said that a group of terrorists was moving from Tirah valley towards the Pak-Afghan border area when security forces ambushed it at Wurmagai and Spurkot.

At least 32 terrorist were killed in the ensuing exchange of fire whereas three security forces' personnel were injured.

The fleeing terrorists reportedly left behind bodies of their accomplices, the ISPR said.

Army chief leaves for Khyber

General Raheel left for Khyber Agency after his meeting with the prime minister.

During his stay in Khyber, the army chief would be meeting security forces personnel engaged in Khyber One operation.

The army chief will be also be briefed on progress made in the operation.

Also during his stay, General Raheel would give directives to further intensify the ongoing operation against militants.