Act against militants or face international isolation: Nawaz Sharif govt tells Pakistan Army

The PML-N-led government of Nawaz Sharif has asked Army to either act against militants or be ready to face international isolotaion.

Karachi: In apparent signs of growing fissures between the Pakistani political leadership and its powerful military, the Nawaz Sharif government has categorically told the country's army to either act against militant groups operating from its soil or risk facing international isolation.

The Pakistan Muslim League- N government has also called for common consensus on several key issues by all major stake holders state.

Leading Pakistani daily, Dawn, reported on Thursday that at least two sets of actions have been agreed as a result of the most recent meeting that was held at an undisclosed location on Monday, a day ahead of the All Parties` Conference.

As per the report, General Rizwan Akhtar Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), accompanied by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nasser Janjua, will travel to each of the four provinces with a message for provincial apex committees and ISI sector commanders.

The Pakistani government has advised, it was reported, the military-led intelligence agencies not to interfere if law enforcement acts against militant groups that are banned or until now considered off-limits for civilian action.

The second set of action is that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed that fresh attempts should be made to conclude the investigation in the Pathankot terror attack and restart the stalled 26/11 Mumbai attacks-related trials in a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court.

The decisions, which have been made after an extraordinary verbal confrontation between Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the ISI DG, indicate a "high-stakes" new approach by the PML-N-led Pakistani government.

On Tuesday, at the All Parties` Conference, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry gave an exclusive presentation in the Prime Minister`s Office to a small group of civil and military officials.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Sharif and had the presence of senior cabinet and provincial official.