PM Shehbaz Chairs In-Camera Briefing on Regional Security, Urges National Unity

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday highlighted the importance of national unity while chairing a meeting of parliamentary party leaders and representatives of political parties to brief them on the regional security situation.

Participants received an in-camera briefing on the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation, developments concerning Iran, conflicts in the Middle East and Gulf region, and Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.

Sources told that the leadership was also updated on the country’s internal security situation, ensuring political leaders were taken into confidence regarding key developments.

PM Shehbaz shared details of his recent diplomatic engagements in the Middle East and his contacts with regional leadership amid rising tensions.

During the session, parliamentary leaders “expressed their views openly,” according to a press release from the PM Office Media Wing. They appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives for regional peace, emphasized the need to intensify these efforts, and offered suggestions for the future course of action. All participants reaffirmed their “strong resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country” and lauded the prime minister for involving all political leadership in decisions of national interest.

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that a proposal was made to convene a joint sitting of parliament to discuss developments concerning Afghanistan and the Middle East. He added that PM Shehbaz and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar would brief lawmakers from both opposition and treasury benches on the international situation and Pakistan’s role in the evolving regional landscape.

Prominent attendees included National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Attaullah Tarar.

The briefing comes amid regional tensions following US and Israel attacks on Iran, which led to the martyrdom of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. At the same time, Pakistan continues to face cross-border terrorism threats from Afghanistan.

The Pakistani armed forces are conducting ground and aerial operations under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting Afghan Taliban elements and Fitna al-Khawarij militants involved in cross-border attacks. The operation, launched on February 27, was in response to unprovoked attacks by Afghan Taliban fighters along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.