ISLAMABAD, May 16: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari visited the headquarters of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on Friday to attend a briefing on the security situation, sources told Dawn.

The presence of Mr Zardari, who is neither an elected lawmaker nor a government official, in the important briefing surprised observers here because such briefings are held exclusively for people under oath.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar also attended the briefing given by ISI chief Lt-Gen Nadim Taj.

The sources said the prime minister and his team were briefed on the current situation in tribal areas and along the borders.

Such meetings are a routine matter and heads of intelligence agencies brief new government functionaries on the security situation to help them formulate future policies. The nature of such briefings is so sensitive that the president or the prime minister is required to go to the headquarters for first hand information, and non-government functionaries and low-grade intelligence officials are not invited.

No official handout was issued about the briefing and ministers belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) were tight-lipped about Mr Zardari’s presence in the briefing.

Meanwhile, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Tariq Majeed and Director General Strategic Planning Division Lt-Gen (retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai visited the Prime Minister House and briefed Mr Gilani on the country’s strategic assets and various projects undertaken by the division to make the country’s defence impregnable.

According to an official handout, the prime minister said the government was committed to maintaining a minimum credible deterrence through conventional and strategic capabilities as Pakistan had a major role to play for peace and stability in the region.

Mr Gilani said that impregnable defence could only be achieved through economic sovereignty, smooth political process, good neighbourliness, friendly international environment and good governance. He lauded the role of the armed forces both in maintaining external security and making valuable services during national calamities. He said Pakistan was a peace-loving country and did not harbour aggressive design against any country. “We, however, believe that peace is achieved through strength and not weakness,” he said, adding the government would continue to provide all necessary support to further enhance the capabilities of the armed forces.

The JCSC chairman apprised Mr Gilani of the performance and professional activities of the army, air force and navy. He also updated the prime minister on the ongoing upgradation programmes in the defence sector.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.