ISLAMABAD: The Nati­onal Security Committee on Wed­nesday endorsed normalisation of diplomatic and political ties with Afgha­nistan which have been frozen over terrorism concerns and border disputes.

“The forum resolved to work at all levels with the people and government of Afghanistan for removal of all irritants,” a statement issued by Prime Minister’s Office after the NSC meeting read.

After assuming office earlier this month, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi presided over his first NSC meeting.

The committee, which is the top civil-military coordination forum, met infrequently under Nawaz Sharif, although the frequency improved towards the last days of the ousted prime minister. The last two meetings took place within a span of almost a week because of the Chinese hostage crisis and deterioration in relations with Afghanistan.

The early convening of the NSC by the prime minister reflects his focus on civil-military coordination on sec­u­rity and foreign policy issues.

Amidst the uncertainty caused by delay in the US review of policy on Afgha­nistan and the neighbouring region, Pakistan has over the past few weeks initiated an effort for rapprochement with Afghanistan.

Committee underscores need for addressing Kashmir issue

Several developments, including a visit by an Afg­han military delegation and convening of a meeting of the Pak-Afghan Joint Econo­mic Commission, have happened since Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa met Afghan envoy Dr Omar Zakhilwal at GHQ on Aug 2 for talks on irritants in ties and ways to address them.

Foreign Secretary Teh­mina Janjua visited Kabul earlier this week for ‘political consultations’ with Afghan counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai. During her trip she also met several Afghan leaders, including President Ashraf Ghani, National Security Adviser Haneef Atmar, NDS chief Masoom Stanikzai, former president Hamid Karzai and Hizb-i-Wahdat leader Ustaad Mohammad Mohaqiq. Talks between Ms Janjua and Mr Khalil resulted in consensus on the need to strengthen bilateral institutional cooperation against terrorism.

The statement on the NSC meeting said that the irritants that were intended to be removed in cooperation with Afghanistan included “repea­ted cross-border fire and support network in Afgha­nistan for terrorist inci­dents in Pakistan”. The statement was silent on Afg­han concern about alle­ged Taliban and Haqqani network sanctuaries, although there have been indica­tions that Pakistan could be addressing them as well.

Ties with India were also discussed at the meeting and the committee underscored the need for addressing the Kashmir issue.

“The participants reiterated that regional peace and progress was directly linked to resolution of all outstanding issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” the PMO statement noted as it expressed its concerns over a massive spike in ceasefire violations at the LoC by Indian troops and continuing human rights violations in India-held Kashmir.

This year India violated LoC truce some 600 times in which over 34 civilians lost their lives.

Internal security was another major agenda point. NSC members agreed on continuing the counterterrorism operations till what was described as “elimination of the last trace of terrorist elements”. Satisfa­ction was expres­sed over gains made during Opera­tions Raddul Fasaad and Khyber-IV.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khur­ram Dastgir Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Foreign Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Com­mittee Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua, ISI Director General Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and senior civil and military officials.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2017