The United State has assured Pakistan of releasing one billion dollars under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) in the current fiscal year, besides giving used defence equipments to meet its security challenges, sources revealed. The Senate Standing Committee on Defence that met with Mushahid Hussain Syed in the chair was given an in-camera briefing by Secretary Defence Lieutenant General Alam Khattak (Retd) on the recently-held Pak-US Strategic Dialogue and the visit of the Chief of Army Staff to the US.
The committee expressed serious reservations over the absence of Defence Minister Khwaja Asif from the meeting. Officials informed the committee that Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif during his visit to the US conveyed evidence regarding India''s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan. The Army Chief presented to top US intelligence and defence officials vital evidence of Indian involvement in subversive activities and terrorism in Pakistan by using Afghan soil.
Defence officials informed the committee that the US has assured Pakistan that Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah would either be arrested or killed in Afghanistan, adding that in case of an arrest he would be subsequently handed over to Pakistan. Officials further said that Pakistan was informed by the US that it carried out drone strikes on Fazlullah''s hideout in Afghanistan but he managed to escape.
The Committee offered Fateha for late King Abdullah and offered condolences to the Saudi royal family. Senator Mushahid, in his remarks, eulogised the services of the late king and termed his death a great loss to the Muslim Ummah as he had worked with zeal and devotion for the unity of Muslims. The late King, Mushahid observed, was a great friend of Pakistan and helped Pakistan in the hour of need. Chairman and members of the Committee appreciated the stance taken by the ministry of defence handling delicate military affairs with US. The Committee paid glowing tributes to the sacrifices of Armed forces and the success of operation Zarb-e-Azb, as a result of which Pak-Afghan ties have witnessed a significant improvement. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are on the same page against terrorists especially after the attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar. The Ministry apprised the meeting that during the recent dialogue, the government effectively highlighted Pakistan''s point of view on the matter.
Mushahid Hussain stated that the national security of Pakistan is of paramount significance and unanimity of opinion exists among all sheds of opinion in this regard. Shujaat Hussain proposed that one Army Public School in each city be named after the Shuhadas of APS Peshawar. The proposal was unanimously agreed upon by the members of the Committee. The Committee decided to write a letter to the Ministry of Defence for a taking necessary action in this regard.
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