ISLAMABAD: The apex body for civil-military coordination on national security matters on Friday vowed to defend Pakistan against all forms of external aggression, placing a particular emphasis on countering the aggressive stance adopted by neighbouring India.

The National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, expressed deep concern over repeated ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control (LoC), which had resulted in the loss of several innocent lives.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Foreign Minister Kha­waja Mohammad Asif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Air Chief Mar­shal Sohail Aman and senior civil and military officials.

Forum briefed on PM’s visit to UN General Assembly; developments in relationship with Afghanistan reviewed

The committee was briefed on the continued violations of the ceasefire by India, both at the LoC and the Working Boundary, where civilians were deliberately being targeted through constant shelling and firing.

In the current year, Indian forces have committed 873 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary, claiming the lives of more than 40 innocent civilians and injuring another 148, the meeting was told.

The committee also condemned the violation of human rights in India-held Kashmir and deplored the use of excessive force against unarmed civilians.

Pakistan forcefully took up the issue of India-held Kashmir and the human rights violations committed by India at the United Nations General Assembly, as well as the 36th session of Human Rights Council.

Prime Minister Abbasi and Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, the meeting was told, had engaged the leadership of several important countries and shared Pakistan’s perspective on regional and global security challenges.

Salient aspects and the outcome of the prime minister’s visit to New York for the UN General Assembly were also shared with the committee.

The meeting was told that the foreign minister had visited key countries in the region, including China, Iran and Turkey, to apprise their leadership of Pakistan’s perspective on crucial regional and international issues.

Pakistan’s continued engagement with leading world powers on matters of regional security had generated supportive sentiment for the country amongst world leaders during interactions on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The committee also reviewed developments in the relationship with Afghanistan, as well as identifying common avenues for continued cooperation, especially border management and repatriation of refugees. The body reiterated its commitment to peace in Afghanistan through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process

The meeting comes at a time when India is seeking an enhanced role in Afghanistan through including military ventures, and Pakistan has repeated voiced its concern over India’s continued use of Afghan soil for subversive activities inside Pakistan.

Relations between the two traditional South Asian rivals have been quite tense this year. US President Donald Trump’s recent overtures towards India, seeking a greater role for it in Afghanistan, has worried policymakers in Islamabad.

On Thursday, Indian media reported that Hugo Llorens, the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, had termed “India as a natural strategic partner of Kabul”.

The Pakistani leadership has already made it clear that the US cannot blame Pakistan for its failures in Afghanistan.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2017