PM, COAS decide to step up actions against terrorists

ISLAMABAD: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, had an important meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here at the PM House on Tuesday and both agreed to expedite actions against the terrorists.
They also discussed the country’s overall security situation and other professional subjects.It is understood that the COAS briefed the premier on the ongoing operation against the terrorists and extremists in various parts of the country and related issues.
They also discussed the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) to eliminate terrorism and extremism besides the establishment of military courts to try the terror-related heinous offences at the earliest.
The repatriation of internally-displaced persons (IDPs) belonging to the tribal areas was one of the important subjects of discussion by the prime minister and the army chief. Sources told The News that the meeting lasted about three quarters of an hour and General Raheel informed the prime minister about acceleration in the operation against terrorists and its outcome.
The meeting has attained significance in the backdrop of developments with regard to Afghanistan where the US has indicated to keep its troops beyond the schedule it had announced earlier.
The Afghan administration is planning to initiate a dialogue with its erstwhile foes, the Taliban, and Washington is also eager to enter into talks with them. The Afghan president, who is leaving for Washington, had telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday evening. The prime minister and the army chief also discussed the situation in the light of these events, the sources said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General Raheel Sharif also discussed the recent arrests made by the security outfits, including of one who was involved in the December 16 attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar. More than 150 people, mostly innocent young students, were martyred in the attack.
Certain developments with regard to ties with India also figured in the conversation, the sources said.They also discussed some security related decisions taken in the federal cabinet meeting a day earlier. The recent incidents of subversion by insurgents in Balochistan and steps to overcome them were discussed by the two personalities.
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong had a meeting with the army chief at the GHQ on Monday and they had discussions regarding ties between the two brotherly countries, including enhancing cooperation in various fields, and the slated visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan.
General Raheel discussed with the prime minister his meeting with the Chinese envoy, the sources said. The PM House has stated that the Chief of the Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at the PM House here. During the meeting, implementation of the National Action Plan, Operation Zarb-e-Azb and return of temporarily-displaced persons came under discussion.