Zardari Shehbaz discuss security, regional developments

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday evening arrived at the Aiwan-e-Sadar and met President Asif Ali Zardari amid the rising tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where the Afghan Taliban regime is now directly busy in unprovoked aggression.

Top cabinet members also attended the meeting held after Pakistan and the Taliban regime agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire. where the two leaders exchanged views on national politics and latest security situation.

Read more: Pakistan carries out precision strikes on Kabul, Kandahar

Zardari and Shehbaz agreed to continue with the consultations as the prime minister also briefed the president on his recent visits to Malaysia and Egypt as well as the his meetings with world leaders and the efforts made for peace in Gaza.

The meeting came after Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir earlier in the day gave a detailed briefing to Zardari on domestic and external security situation.

As the army chief informed the president about the response armed forces gave to the unprovoked attacks by Taliban, Zardari made it clear that Pakistan would safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On the other hand, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi called Dar — Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister — and discussed matters related to regional security.

The call came soon after the latest temporary ceasefire came into effect on the request of Afghan Taliban as Pakistan carried out precision strikes inside Afghanistan on selected targets.