ISLAMABAD - The National Security Committee underscored the importance of recalibrating the foreign policy framework to bring more focus on countries in the region with special focus on building economic partnership with these countries and beyond for a win-win cooperation.

The NSC met for its 19th meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday to review the current international and regional situation.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Miftah Ismail briefed the committee on the recently held meeting of Financial Action Task Force plenary meeting on February 23rd, and the preparedness of Pakistan to avoid falling in the grey list of the FATF, sources aware of the deliberations of the meeting informed The Nation.

The meeting also reviewed the concerns raised at the FATF meeting, and it was decided that the issues relating to it should be effectively addressed, the sources said.

The meeting, which was attended by the ministers of foreign affairs, defence, interior, adviser to the prime minister on finance, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee and the three services chiefs was briefed on the current international and regional situation particularly on relations with regional countries.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif briefed the committee on his recent visit to Russia and recalled the desire of the two countries to further strengthen bilateral relations in all areas.

The committee also reiterated the significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the benefits it brings to the development of Pakistan, the region and beyond.

The participants agreed on further strengthening the CPEC cooperation as the flagship programme of the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative.

The committee reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding interest in lasting peace in Afghanistan.

It stressed the importance of peace among the Afghan people through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned national peace and reconciliation process.

The committee underscored the need for consistent and continued engagement with Afghanistan.

The importance of effective border management as well as time-bound repatriation of Afghan refugees to Afghanistan in a dignified manner was also emphasised.

The committee condemned the unprovoked Indian ceasefire violations along the LoC and Working Boundary.

More than 400 ceasefire violations in 2018 alone had resulted in the deaths of and injuries to scores of innocent civilians.

The committee observed that through consistent ceasefire violations, the Indian government was trying to divert the international attention from blatant human rights violations in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

India must give priority to peace.

The committee agreed that Pakistan would continue its fight against terrorism and extremism in the interest of its people.

Our policies will continue to be formulated and implemented in the light of our national interests, it was stated.

 

NSC for recalibration of foreign policy framework