ISLAMABAD: The National Security Committee on Wednesday endorsed the government’s strategy for “regional peace and security” and reaffirmed political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris braving Indian oppression.

“The National Security Committee reviewed the broader regional situation and expressed satisfaction over the role that Pakistan continues to play for peace and stability,” said a statement issued after a meeting of the top civil-military coordination forum. It was chaired by the prime minister and attended by key cabinet ministers, services chiefs and intelligence heads.

The forum, which used to meet infrequently and often with months-long break, has practically met every month since Shahid Khaqan Abbasi became the prime minister.

The endorsement of the efforts for regional peace and stability in effect means the approval of the strategy on Afghanistan. This is particularly important in view of the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Abbasi to Kabul. He had been invited by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for initiating “a state to state comprehensive dialogue”.

Reaffirms political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua visited Kabul earlier this week to prepare for the prime minister’s trip.

Pakistan has supported President Ghani’s invitation to the Taliban for peace talks. Besides offering dialogue, which was seen as a major shift in President Ghani’s position on the insurgent group, he had in his speech at a meeting of the Kabul Process also indicated his willingness to resume engagement with Pakistan and fix the strains in bilateral relations.

The United States too has pointed towards the “meaningful role” Pakistan can play for peace in Afghanistan through its (US) cooperation.

The NSC meeting also discussed the situation in Kashmir and renewed Pakistan’s commitment to political, diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmir cause.

Twenty Kashmiris were killed last Sunday in India-held Kashmir. Pakistan has already condemned the brute use of force by Indian troops and has called for observing April 6 (Friday) as Kashmir Solidarity Day to protest against Indian brutalities and express unity with the Kashmiris.

“The continued inhuman and incessant use of pellet guns against innocent protesters and funeral processions by occupation force has once again resulted in injuries to hundreds of Kashmiris and blinding of scores of Kashmiris,” the NSC observed and praised “the extraordinary courage and resilience of Kashmiri people in the face of Indian brutalities, gross and systematic violations of all their human rights”.

The committee observed that the purely indigenous character of this uprising had once again “belied the false propaganda by the Indian government”.

“The committee decided to raise the issue of unprecedented Indian brutalities at both bilateral and multilateral fora,” the statement on the meeting said.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2018