Formation Commanders meeting underway at GHQ

RAWALPINDI: A two-day meeting of the Formation Commanders is underway at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Express News reported on Wednesday. Security issues in the country as well as professional and operational affairs of the Pakistan Army are being discussed in the meeting, which is headed by army chief General Raheel Sharif. The military leadership is also discussing the security at the borders of the country, the law and order situation as well as the future strategy of the army. Just yesterday, a high-level meeting on the internal security situation in the country had authorised the army to carry out ‘appropriate action’ against terrorist hideouts following the recent spate of attacks – including the audacious assault at the Karachi airport. The meeting, which was held against the backdrop of precarious security situation in the country, was presided by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by General Raheel Sharif as well as Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. Chief of General Staff Lt General Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad and head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) counter-intelligence Major General Nasir Dilawar Shah were also present during the huddle, which lasted over three hours. Interestingly, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Zaheerul Islam who regularly appears at such meetings, was not present. Sources familiar with the development had said that the spy chief was out of station. A brief statement issued by the prime minister’s office had stated that the law and order situation in the country was reviewed during the meeting.