ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said that national security is the top most priority of the present government and all resources would be utilised to ensure it.

He was chairing a high level meeting here to review the overall security situation of the country.

The meeting discussed issues pertaining to national security including the internal and external threats being faced by the country.

The prime minister further said that all political forces must rise to the occasion so that national consensus is evolved to address the problems faced by the country.

He said that broad based national consensus among all stakeholders would enable the government to find enduring solutions to the problems being faced by the country.

He also said that terrorism will not be tolerated in any way in the country.

During the meeting, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's recent visit to Pakistan was also discussed, along with issues related to opening dialogue with the Taliban.

Previously, Information Minister Pervez Rashid had said that ‘backchannel’ talks between the government and Taliban were taking place and official contacts would be made soon.

Rashid had said on Friday that all options were being explored by the government for restoring peace in the country and contacts had been made with the Taliban at different levels.

On Sunday Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the government had not yet initiated ‘formal’ talks with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), although he did not deny reports that backchannel negotiations were already under way.

Minister for Interior, Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Special Assistant to the PM, Tariq Fatemi and Director General ISI, Lt. Gen. Muhammad Zaheer ul Islam attended the meeting.