By NNN-PTI,
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani chaired a high-level meeting that included Army and ISI chiefs amid speculations that preparedness of the armed forces was reviewed.
Though a government release issued after the meeting on Saturday did not give details about the meeting, television channels reported that the meeting reviewed the operational preparedness of the armed force and resolved to defend Pakistan’s territorial integrity.
Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Foreign Minister Qureshi, army chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha participated in the meeting, the release from the Prime Minister’s House said.
Qureshi briefed the gathering on the foreign policy response to India’s allegations that Pakistan-based elements were involved in the Mumbai attacks, the reports said.
India has accused Pakistan-based elements, including the banned Lashker-e-Taiba, for planning and executing the attack that killed over 180 people and injured scores. New Delhi has asked Islamabad to take action against these elements.
The US too has backed India’s call for action, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Pakistan’s top leadership to act “sincerely” while providing “unequivocal assistance” to India in probing the attacks.
Meanwhile, during a telephone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, Qureshi said Pakistan too was a victim of terrorism and was fully cooperating with the international community to fight the menace.