RAWALPINDI: A session of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee meeting (JCSC), which is the highest military leadership forum where defence and security issues are discussed, was convened here at Joint Staff Headquarters today.

The meeting was chaired by General Tariq Majid, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and was attended by Secretary Defence, Kamran Rasool, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of the Army Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir, Chief of the Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mahmood Ahmed, Chief of the Air Staff, Director General Joint Staff, Secretary Defence Production, Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Director General Strategic Plans Division and other concerned officials.

In his opening remarks CJCSC said that the completion of the political transition is a positive development granting the government the strength to meet the myriad of challenges. The other positive development is the rise of the people against the hydra headed militants in FATA and adjoining areas.

Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) briefed the forum on prevailing national, regional and global environment. The meeting comprehensively reviewed the domestic internal security including situation in FATA, regional developments with particular reference to Afghanistan. The evolving security challenges were analysed to strengthen the response with the operational preparation of the Armed Forces in harmony with the national policies.

The meeting reiterated its resolve to support the government efforts for developing broad based consensus national response with the emerging geo-political and strategic realities in view, orchestrating all elements of national power.

The forum took serious note of lately appearing insinuations about Pakistan’s strategic programme and the ISI. The participants expressed complete satisfaction with the safety, security and command arrangements put in place to guard the nation’s strategic assets.

Speaking on the need to strengthen the joint service framework, General Tariq Majid said that there is a need to harmonize individual capacities of the services so that efforts are synergized within a framework of jointness and inter-operability to meet present and future challenges.