High level huddle reviews security situation in Fata, Balochistan

Chaudhry Nisar gives briefing on raising rapid response forces at federal and provincial levels.

ISLAMABAD: With the Hafiz Gul Bahadar group in North Waziristan advising locals to evacuate the area on Friday in light of a possible military offensive, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a high level huddle in Islamabad to review the situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan.

The high level meeting, attended by army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam, Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Ashfaq Nadeem, was given a briefing by interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Nisar updated Nawaz on the status of raising a rapid response force at the federal and provincial level.

Nawaz appreciated the improved coordination with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, crediting them for improved law and order situation in Balochistan.

Defence minister Khawaja Asif was not present in the meeting, nor the prime minister's adviser on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz or his special secretary Tariq Fatemi. Other members of the federal cabinet were also missing.