Islamabad: Pakistan’s National Security Committee on Thursday agreed to continue peace talks with the Taliban, while resolving to do whatever necessary to ensure national and regional security and to forge better relations with neighbouring countries.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by three services chiefs, federal ministers and advisers.

An official statement issued by Prime Minister House after the meeting said that the National Security Committee discussed a number of issues related to internal and external security with long term implications for the country.

The committee resolved that all policy options would be explored and all available resources utilised to ensure peace and security.

According to the statement, the National Security Committee also endorsed the vision to put Pakistan on the crossroads of opportunity rather than conflict to spur growth for prosperity of the people.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister said that the National Security Committee is an apex forum where every state institution gets an opportunity to provide inputs so that all national security related decisions are taken through collective thinking.

He said the committee provides a forum to the institutions to give suggestions for resolution of issues and national development.

The committee agreed that national security was of paramount importance for consolidating the economic gains that the government had achieved through sound macroeconomic policies and hard work of the economic team.

The trust shown by the international community, especially the International Financial Institutions in the government’s efforts to kick start the economy, required an enabling security environment to achieve sustainable economic growth in the coming years.

From the government’s side Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid attended the meeting.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Asif Sandeela, Chief of Air Force Tahir Rafiq, director general (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), DG Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Rashid Mahmoud also attended the meeting.

The security committee discussed several crucial issues including peace dialogues with Taliban, truce with the militants and release of Taliban prisoners, besides discussing Pak-Afghan security situation in the wake of US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

During the meeting the directors-general of the ISI and the Intelligence Bureau briefed the committee about the security situation in the country and Aziz gave a briefing about Pakistan’s policy with regards to Afghanistan.

It was reportedly decided in the meeting that Pakistan will not interfere in Afghanistan and will support whoever is elected in the presidential elections in Afghanistan.

According to sources, the premier has advised to enhance the internal security of the country.

The military and political leadership has also decided to continue ongoing targeted operation in Karachi.

The meeting also reviewed a recent announcement by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to end a ceasefire and developed a strategy to tackle the situation.

The Prime Minister briefed the participants about his recent visit to China and the latest situation on the proposed Pak-China trade corridor.

He also briefed them on the development projects in the energy and communication sectors, which will be completed at a cost of $35 billion (Dh128 billion) on priority basis with Chinese assistance.

The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that the trade corridor will go a long way in generating economic activities in the region.

The Finance Minister briefed the Committee regarding issuance of Euro bond and said that it was historic return to the international bond market which was a successful stride.

The Advisor on National Security briefed the meeting regarding the Afghan situation and the transition process after the recently held presidential elections in Afghanistan.

The Interior Minister briefed the participants about the security situation and the strategy of dialogue with the Taliban to counter insurgency.