ISLAMABAD, JAN 04 (DNA) – A meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security is underway in Parliament House in Islamabad.

Speaker National Assembly is chairing the in-camera session, which is being attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah.

The committee will deliberate upon matters related to national security, especially in the backdrop of anti-Pakistan statements emanating from Washington.

Earlier, the federal cabinet in its meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair unanimously endorsed the stance of National Security Committee (NSC) of the cabinet, which had expressed deep disappointment over recent statements of the American leadership.

The cabinet viewed that the American statements were detrimental to the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and the United States, a relationship that had been developed over generations, PM Office media wing said in a press release.

“Pakistan has rendered huge sacrifices, both in terms of loss of precious human lives and substantial damage to the economy. Achievements made by Pakistan in curbing the menace of terrorism have been acknowledged throughout the world,” it added.

The cabinet also considered other agenda items as well. It considered a proposal for granting extension in the Proof of Registration (POR) Cards and Tripartite Agreement (Pakistan – Afghanistan – UNHCR) for Afghan Refugees beyond 31st December, 2017.