PM, army chief discuss Afghan reconciliation process

Meeting comes a day after new Afghan Taliban chief cast doubts on a fledgling peace process

The top civil and military leadership on Monday discussed the Afghan reconciliation process in the context of the current regional situation. 

During the meeting between Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the overall security situation and the progress of the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb was also discussed, according to the PM House.

The meeting comes days after news of Afghan Taliban supremo Mullah Omar's death and a day after his successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, cast doubts on a fledgling peace process.

The second round of face-to-face talks between Afghan government officials and Taliban representatives, brokered by Pakistan, was postponed following confirmation of Mullah Omar’s death two years ago.

Read: Pakistan to coax Afghan Taliban back into talks

In his first audio message, Mullah Omar’s successor gave mixed signals on the peace process. While calling peace talks the enemy’s propaganda, Mullah Mansoor did not rule out negotiations along with ‘Jihad’ to achieve the group’s objectives.

The fate of the nascent peace process was discussed during Saturday’s meeting between US Special Representatives for Afghanistan and Pakistan Daniel Feldman and army chief General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The US special envoy, who was originally in Pakistan to attend the second round of talks, hoped ‘with all sincerity’ that the talks would resume soon.

Read: Firm resolve: PM, army chief vow to wipe out terrorists

The civil, military leadership also discussed security at the borders with special emphasis on internal security.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhter were also present during the meeting.

Nexus between terrorists, drug dealers will be broken: Gen Raheel

Earlier today, the army chief visited the headquarters of Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) and was briefed on the efforts being made to curb the production and smuggling of narcotics.

"Drug producers and peddlers are as detrimental to national security as terrorists as drug money is being used for promoting terrorism," the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) quoted the army chief as saying.

#COAS visited HQ Anti Narcotic Force.Detailed briefing by DG ANF on counter drug smuggling ops.Tribute to shuhada-1 pic.twitter.com/QzyNahBUVJ

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 3, 2015

“Drug peddlers need to be dealt with iron hands,” the army chief said. He added, "We will have to break the nexus between narcotics dealers, financiers, perpetrators."

Drug producers,peddlers as detrimental to natl security as terrorist.Drug money used for promotion of terrorism.Need dealt with iron hand-2

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 3, 2015

Further, General Raheel assured he will not allow drug barons to spoil future generations.

The army chief also applauded ANF's endeavours and record seizures in year 2014 and 2015, which has helped in curbing the menace domestically and internationally.

#COAS appreciated ANF’s endeavors on record seizures in 2014 & 2015 which helped in curbing the menace domestically and internationally.-3

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 3, 2015