Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif consults military-civil leaders on security

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today discussed internal security and relations with Afghanistan in a meeting with top officials from the army and civil administration, days ahead of an expected visit by Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to Kabul.

Sharif chaired a high-level meeting at the PM House here, according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office.

"Issues pertaining to internal security and Afghanistan were discussed during the meeting," it said.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Interior Nisar Ali Khan, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, General Raheel Sharif, National Security Advisor General (R) Nasser Khan Janjua and senior civil and military officials.

Sources said that the meeting also focused on Afghanistan ahead of an expected visit by General Raheel to Kabul in coming days.

The exact timing of the visit is not known as yet.

The ties with Afghanistan improved after President Ashraf Ghani visited Islamabad to attend Heart of Asia Conference earlier this month.

Pakistan has assured him support for peace talks with Taliban, according to government sources.