Pak to foil hostile intel agencies 'fomenting trouble'

Islamabad, Jun 7: Pakistan today said "hostile" intelligence agencies and their facilitators will not be allowed to "foment trouble" inside its territory as a high- level meeting voiced concern that the US drone strike, which killed Taliban chief Mullah Mansour, "affected mutual trust".

A meeting of senior civil and military officials was held at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi to discuss issues related to national security, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

"Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to enduring regional peace, it was underlined that hostile intelligence agencies and their facilitators will not be allowed to foment trouble inside Pakistan," it said in a statement.

This comes amid Pakistan's allegations that an Indian spy was involved in "subversive activities" and was arrested. Yesterday, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said Pakistan has rejected India's request for consular access to the alleged spy Kulbushan Jadhav.

The meeting also expressed its concern on the May 21 US drone strike, which killed Mansour in Balochistan, saying "it was a clear violation of Pakistan's sovereignty affecting mutual trust and undermined the spirit" of Afghan Peace Process under mutually agreed Quadrilateral framework.

The leadership resolved to protect the core national interests and effectively countering "any negative outside influence", the statement added.

The meeting also took cognisance of ongoing regional developments and "inimical designs against our stability and prosperity", it said.

At the meeting, the officials dwelt at length on various issues related to external and internal security situation of the country including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Among those who attended the meeting were Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif and Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence Maj Gen Rizwan Akhtar.

PTI