Islamabad: The Pakistani military today threw its weight behind the new civilian government's strategy combining political dialogue and use of force for countering the "growing threat of militancy in the country". A meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee presided over by its Chairman, Gen Tariq Majid, deliberated upon the "evolving security environment within the country". The meeting also discussed "important regional developments impacting on national security" and carried out a "comprehensive review of external threats".

"The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee reiterated its full support to the government's policy and its three-pronged strategy to counter the growing threat of militancy in the country," said an official statement issued by the military. The government s three-pronged strategy comprises a political dialogue with tribes and militants who have laid down arms, accelerating the pace of economic development and reserving the right to use force if peace agreements are violated.

The meeting held at the Joint Staff Headquarters near Rawalpindi was attended by Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, navy chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, air force chief Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed, Defence Secretary Kamran Rasool, Defence Production Secretary Lt Gen (retired) Shahid Siddiq Tirmizi and other senior armed forces officers.

The Committee was also briefed on the progress of the development plan of the armed forces. Gen Majid and the three service chiefs expressed their satisfaction at the operational preparedness of the armed forces. Other important matters of tri-service implication were also discussed, the statement said.

Source : PTI