After 3-month hiatus, Nisar attends high-level security huddle

Security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz, attended by army chief underway at PM House

ISLAMABAD: After a gap of three months, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar attended a high-level civil, military huddle to discuss matters relating to the security of the country.

The country’s top security czar had been absent from such meetings for the past three months. Last month, Nisar had been conspicuously missing in action throughout Xi’s two-day visit.

Read: Nisar's absence: trouble in paradise or Chinese whispers?

Nisar isn’t known to delegate his work, especially when it comes to high-level talks with key allies. Yet, the minister was nowhere to be seen.

The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif discussed progress in the ongoing military offensive codenamed Zarb-e-Azb and the return of temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) owing to it.

Read: High-level huddle: Nawaz, army chief discuss security challenges

The Pakistan Army on June 15 launched a military offensive in North Waziristan against militants. Since then, the operation has been expanded to Khyber Agency and recently the premier approved for the operation to continue in Shawal Valley.

Read: 'PM gives go-ahead for ground operation in Shawal Valley'

The meeting also reviewed progress on National Action Plan and discussed measures for its more effective implementation.

Other than Nisar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Army chief General Raheel Sharif and DG ISI Rizwan Akhtar are present at the meeting among other top civil, military leaders.