World News | Pakistan’s National Security Council decides to launch ‘comprehensive’ counter-terrorism operation

ISLAMABAD, April 7 (PTI) — A key National Security Council (NSC) meeting convened by Pakistani Prime Minister Sheikh Baz Sharif on Friday decided to launch a “comprehensive operation” to eradicate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms in the country.

The 41st meeting of the National Security Council was chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Baaz and attended by cabinet ministers, chief ministers, service chiefs, intelligence chiefs and other key civilian officials.

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A press release from the Prime Minister’s Office said Friday’s National Security Council meeting was a continuation of the previous meeting held after the terrorist attack at the Peshawar police station.

“The meeting agreed to embark on a comprehensive campaign, with national and government support, to free the country from the threat of terrorism with renewed vigor and determination,” an official statement said.

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The move to eradicate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms from Pakistan will include measures at the political, diplomatic security, economic and social levels, it said.

A high-level committee has been formed and will make recommendations on the implementation and restrictions of the operation within two weeks, the release said.

The meeting came amid a widening divide between the judiciary and the federal government over holding polls in the country’s politically crucial Punjab province.

The National Security Council is a federal agency and advisory body chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

It is the primary forum for deliberations on national security and foreign policy issues with senior national security advisers and cabinet ministers.

The National Security Council discussed at length the threat posed by rebel groups, especially those linked to the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, according to an official statement.

“With the support of these returning dangerous terrorists and the various terrorist organizations that are present in large numbers in Afghanistan, the peace and stability that is the result of countless sacrifices and continuous efforts in the country are being undermined,” it said.

If elections are held in Punjab province on May 14, as ordered by the Supreme Court, the federal government will ask top-level briefings on the potential threat from militants, Dawn newspaper quoted sources as saying.

Last month, the Pakistan Army informed the Pakistan Election Commission that its troops would not be able to perform voting-related tasks due to the prevailing law and order situation in the country.

The last National Security Council meeting, held in January, reaffirmed its determination to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to terrorism in the country.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)