Parliamentary Committee on National Security meeting was held on 1st July which discussed issues concerning the national security. DG ISI Lt General Faiz Hameed briefed Parliamentarians on the current evolving security situation in Afghanistan & other strategic matters.
The 8-hour long meeting was attended by many of the civil and military officials including General Qamar Javaid Bajwa (COAS) and Lt. General Faiz Hameed (DG ISI). The meeting was also attended by the leader of the opposition Shahbaz Shareef. Other officials who attended the meeting include the Chief Minister of Baluchistan and Sindh, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. All the parliamentarians felt satisfied after getting the required briefing from DG-ISI Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed. The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Rasheed (Minister of Interior), Tariq Bashir Cheema (Minister of Housing), and Shah Mehmood Qureshi (Minister of Foreign Affairs). Prime Minister Imran Khan did not attend this meeting.
The meeting opened with a briefing session provided by DG-ISI in which he talked about the Afghanistan and Kashmir issue. He briefed everyone that Pakistan plays a highly positive role in the Afghan Peace Process. Pakistan is responsible for holding peace talks between the US and the Taliban. He added “Pakistan’s efforts paved the way for dialogue between Afghan factions and warring groups”.
Many opposition members stated that they have been kept in the dark related to Pakistan’s standing in Afghanistan; However, Shah Mehmood Qureshi added that it will be made mandatory for the opposition members to be briefed accordingly.
The meeting was briefed that “Sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan will lead to stability in South Asia“.
Pakistan is open to receiving an Afghan representative so as to keep the peace process going. The border fencing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has also been completed up to 90%. There are other systems like customs which are being set in terms of border control.
Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had earlier claimed that he demanded this meeting to be held, so all parties could gain insight on the Afghanistan issue.
US and NATO have pulled out their troops from Afghanistan, since then the Taliban have started to expand. The Taliban in Afghanistan have taken control of more than 70 districts in the time span of 6 months. They have also influenced the areas of the north. Afghanistan is going to civil war and the country which will be most affected by this war is Pakistan. According to PM Imran Khan, in case war returns to Afghanistan Pakistan will be forced to seal its borders with Afghanistan.
US and NATO have pulled out their troops from Afghanistan and hence the Taliban have started to expand. The Taliban’s in Afghanistan have taken control of more than 70 districts in the time span of 6 months. They have also influenced the areas of the north. Afghanistan is going to civil war and the country which will be most affected by this war is Pakistan. In case war takes place, Pakistan will most likely seal its border with Afghanistan.
PM Imran Khan did not attend the meeting, he was briefed earlier on issues pertaining to national security at a meeting held at ISI Headquarters.
