ISLAMABAD: The National Security Committee (NSC), which met here on Friday with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair, deliberated on the popular uprising in India-held Kashmir, border management with Afghanistan and Pakistan`s internal security situation.

Mr Sharif had convened the meeting of the highest civil-military coordination forum a day before he returned to the federal capital after two months of medical treatment and recuperation.

The government during Mr Sharif`s absence last month had indicated that the NSC meeting would be convened on his return to discuss border tensions with Afghanistan, but recent events in held Kashmir pushed the [Kashmir] issue tothetopofagenda.

Mr Sharif, who in a picturereleased on social media on Thursday was shown reading a brief from the General Headquarters on his return journey to Islamabad, held a one-on-one meeting with Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif ahead of the NSC session.

The meeting reviewed the steps that had been taken so far for supporting the indigenous, non-violent and youth-driven uprising in held Kashmir which India is brutally trying to suppress.

Nearly 50 people have losttheir lives and another 3,500 suffered injuries in clashes with Indian forces.

The international reaction to the Kashmir situation was also examined.

`The meeting unanimously expressed grave concern over the deteriorating situation in...Indian Occupied Kashmir in the wake of martyrdom of indigenous Kashmiri freedom fighter Burhanuddin Muzaffar Wani. The meeting strongly condemned the subsequent continuing brutal oppression of the Indian security forces over innocentKashmiris who have been peacefully protesting against this martyrdom,` a press note issued by the Prime Minister Office said.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Sharif reassured the Kashmiris of Pakistan`s unwavering support for their struggle and rejected Indian allegations that Pakistan was stoking unrest in the Valley.

The meeting endorsed the steps that Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had announced a day earlier at his press briefing for drawing the world attention to the plight of Kashmiris, including a reference to the UN Human Rights Council, for investigating the situation and seeking a ban on use of pellet guns against protesters. Some 70 people are said to have become blind over the past fortnight because of use of pellet guns by the Indian forces.

Border management The NSC ratified the decision of reinforcing management of the Pak-Afghan border through construction of border posts, fencing and deployment of troops to prevent unauthorised cross-border movement. `The meeting decided that [an] effective border management system between Pakistan and Afghanistan should be introduced and enforced as it is in the interest of both the countries,` the press note said.

The meeting was apprised about the Afghan government`s resistance to the management plan and Mr Aziz`s meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani in Tashkent last month during which both sides had agreed to constitute a bilateral mechanism at the level of foreign ministers and the national security advisers for consultation and coordination on border management issues.

The forum would be assisted by a technical group.The first meeting of the technical group has been scheduled for July 26. Director General Military Operations Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza would lead the Pakistani delegation, which would include representatives of the relevant departments and organisations, to the meeting.

The meeting acknowledges the US support for border management.

Internal security While discussing internal security, the NSC focused on the Rangers operation in Karachi with the military leadership emphasising that the operation should not be politicised. `The meeting expressed satisfaction over the gains achieved so far in effectively ensuring national security.`It reaffirmed its resolve to eliminate `terrorism and extremism from the motherland`