Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) Against the backdrop of disclosures by David Coleman Headley linking Pakistan’s ISI spy agency to the 26/11 attack, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday chaired a meeting of the National Security Council and reviewed the volatile situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan region that could affect the country’s security.

The 90-minute meeting, held at the prime minister’s residence, reviewed the security situation on the country and was attended, among others, by Defence Minister A.K Antony, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and Home Minister P. Chidamabaram, reliable sources said.

Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, the three service chiefs and the heads of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW;) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) were also present at the meeting.

The meeting took stock of the security situation in Pakistan in the wake of the attack on a key naval base in Karachi last month and the continuing nexus between the military-intelligence apparatus and terrorist outfits in that country, said the sources.

Using perhaps the strongest language vis-a-vis Pakistan, Manmohan Singh last month had warned the powers-that-be in the neighbouring country to control the “terror monster” they had unleashed and dismantle the terror infrastructure that continues to target Indian interests and assets.

The meeting also reviewed the volatile situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s intensified attempts to influence the reconciliation process in view of the phased withdrawal of US troops from that country in July.

The NSC also took stock of perceived threats to Indian installations in Afghanistan and steps required to safeguard Indian interests in the violence-torn country.