ISLAMABAD: In its first meeting, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) on Thursday received a briefing from Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua on the situation along the borders with Afghanistan and Iran, as well as Pakistan`s strategy for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case on Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Briefing reporters af ter chairing the first in-camera session of the PCNS, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said the committee had received a comprehensive briefing on foreign policy matters, but could not divulge details due to the sensitivity of the issues discussed.Mr Sadiq said the committee had finaliseditsrulesandmembershad decided that its proceedings would be held in camera. He said the next meeting would be held after Eid, where members would review the progress in the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and examine details of cases being tried by military courts.

Mr Sadiq said the committee would call officials from defence and intelligence agencies, whenever required.

Sources said that while briefing the PCNS, Mr Aziz informed members about the recent border clashes with Afghanistan, saying that Pakistan had to respond after its territory came under unprovoked attack from the other side.

He said Pakistan wanted to have good relations with Afghanistan, but wanted Kabul to reciprocate.

The sources said that Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua also briefed members over the Kulbhushan Jadhav issue. They said the foreign secretary expressed her surprise over the way the ICJ had acted swiftly onthe Indian application and fixed Monday as the date for hearing.

The PCNS was informed that the government was reviewing the contents of the Indian application, which was filed with the ICJ and would prepare an appropriate response.

The 34-member bipartisan and bicameral PCNS consists of representatives of all treasury and opposition parties in the National Assembly and Senate. It was formed by the government last month to fulfil the commitment, made with opposition parties in return for their support for the 23rd amendment, granting a two-year extension to military courts.

The four terms of reference of the PCNS are `to discuss issues relating to national security of urgent nature; periodically review, monitor and oversee implementation of NAP; to present periodical reports of the committee to both the houses of the parliament and to monitor the process of transfer of cases from military courts to the civil courts through criminal justice reforms.