ISLAMABAD: The civil and military leadership met again on Thursday to review the situation on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary and the counter-terrorism operation in North Waziristan.

The meeting on national security took place less than a week after the National Security Council’s meeting last Friday and was descri­bed as a follow-up session.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the meeting that was attended by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Defence Minister Kha­waja Asif, Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, ISI chief Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and other officials.

“The issues related to regional and internal security came under discussion during the meeting,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

According to a source at the meeting, the prime minister was briefed about the steps taken to raise the issue of violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary at the international level.

The military side gave a briefing on the latest situation on the ground. It was noted that the intensity of shelling from the Indian side had subsided over the past few days.

The source said it was agreed that Pakistan would continue to respond to provocations by India with utmost restraint.

An update on Operation Zarb-i-Azb was also given at the meeting.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2014