Islamabad, March 4 The Pakistani government arranged a closed-door briefing for leaders of various political parties on Wednesday to keep them informed about the prevailing regional security situation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting, where security officials briefed the participants on the ongoing conflict with the Afghan Taliban and the situation in West Asia following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
"The meeting was given an in-camera briefing regarding the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation, the hostilities in Iran, the Middle East, and the Gulf, and Pakistan's diplomatic efforts," read a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
It added that the parliamentary leaders of the participating political parties "freely expressed their views."
"The participants emphasized the need for national unity, consensus, and unanimity in the current circumstances," the statement said.
It noted that the attendees praised Pakistan's diplomatic efforts for peace, stressed the need to intensify them, and made recommendations for the plan of action.
"All participants reiterated their firm commitment to eradicate terrorism from the country," it said, adding that the leaders also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz's "move to keep the entire political leadership informed."
State-run Radio Pakistan reported that the parliamentary leaders of the political parties expressed their views openly. They also emphasized the need for national unity, consensus, and solidarity in the current situation.
The participants appreciated Pakistan's diplomatic efforts for peace in the region. They also emphasized the need to further accelerate these diplomatic efforts and also presented suggestions on the future course of action.
All the participants reiterated their strong commitment to eradicate terrorism from the country. They also appreciated and thanked the Prime Minister for taking all political leadership into confidence in the larger interest of Pakistan.
Earlier, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday while addressing the National Assembly that Prime Minister Shehbaz invited parliamentary leaders and party heads to "sit down and develop a course of action so we can move forward."
All leading political parties and their leaders attended the briefing, but the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf remained absent. Its leaders declared not to attend any meeting unless a meeting of party leaders with