ISLAMABAD, March 22: President General Pervez Musharraf presided over a special session of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee meeting here on Monday to discuss the defence and national security situation in the country.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Defence Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Mohammad Aziz, Air Chief Kaleem Sadaat, Naval Chief Shahid Kareemullah, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and other senior government and military officials.
The committee discussed "important matters related to defence and national security," said a press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). Sources said the committee reviewed the ongoing operation in the tribal areas of Pakistan and the resultant security situation.
The committee, they said, reviewed the progress on the war against terrorism, Pakistan-US relations and the situation arising as a result of the military operation in tribal areas.
When asked if the Wana operation came under discussion during the meeting, ISPR DG Shaukat Sultan said: "I have told you, whatever we had to say, we have said in the press release."
In response to a question if the US had provided any satellite images of specific terrorist locations in tribal areas to Pakistan, Maj-Gen Sultan did not rule out the possibility saying the intelligence information could not be shared with the media.
Replying to a question if the US was supplying satellite images to Pakistan related only to the tribal areas or the entire country's footprint, Gen Sultan said: "They are not countrywide. They are specifically related to this war against terror."
Responding to reported allegations of the US confronting Pakistan with specific satellite photographs of Pakistan Army trucks rescuing Taliban fighters, Gen Sultan said the report was "absolutely absurd."
"We are very much mindful of the security of the country. Just be comfortable about it." The Time magazine in its March 8 edition quoted US intelligence officials in Washington saying that "the US possesses satellite photos that purportedly show Pakistani Army trucks picking up Taliban troops fleeing back across the border after a failed attack.
After the US confronted Pakistan officials with the photographs, signs of visible Pakistan aid to the rebels ceased."