Kayani briefs Pakistan PM on Army's role

Islamabad, Apr 3: Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani is learnt to have briefed Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, his cabinet ministers and other coalition leaders about the prevailing situation in the tribal areas and army's role in combating terror in these areas.

According to sources, the military and civilian leaderships expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in the Tribal Areas. They stressed the need to work together to achieve consensus and devise a workable plan to tackle terrorism, while addressing the concerns of the international community. Gen Kayani also briefed the new government about military efforts to stabilise the situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and restoring normalcy in Swat region.

Following the briefing of the military's role in combating terrorism, the Prime Minister decided to formulate comprehensive "political policy guidelines" to find a political solution to the existing threat of terrorism.

On the occasion, intelligence chiefs also presented a briefing on the co-operation between Pakistan and the United States and other war on terror partners.

After the briefing, parliamentary leader of FATA MNAs Munir Khan Orakzai said: "We will sit together in a few days and formulate a policy to deal with extremism and terrorism."

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as reiterating his call for a "political" resolution to the conflict. "The solution should be through talks, and the constant use of force should end now," he said, while conceding that the government had yet to work out its overall strategy, reported the Daily Times.

ANI