Drone attack damaged Pak-US mutual trust

A high-level meeting between the civil and military leadership at the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Tuesday resolved to protect the core national interests and effectively counter any negative outside influence.

The meeting expressed concern over the May 21 US drone strike, saying it was a clear violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty affecting mutual trust, and undermined the spirit of the Afghan peace process under the mutually-agreed quadrilateral framework.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the adviser on Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, DG ISI Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and other senior military officials.

According to the ISPR, the meeting discussed issues related to national security. Participants of the meeting dwelt at length on various issues related to the external and internal security situation of the country, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The meeting resolved to protect the CPEC project at all costs.Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to enduring regional peace, it was underlined that hostile intelligence agencies and their facilitators will not be allowed to foment trouble inside Pakistan.

It was noted with satisfaction that the successes of Operation Zarb-e-Azb had been phenomenal and it was agreed that the achievements in bringing stability in the country will have to be sustained whatever it takes.The meeting also took cognisance of ongoing regional developments and designs against Pakistan’s stability and prosperity.

(THE NEWS-PAKISTAN)