ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed his government to establish a special cell to monitor the volatile and evolving situation in neighboring Afghanistan and avert its negative impact on Pakistan.

The prime minister issued the directions while chairing a meeting of the National Security Committee – a federal consultative body mandated to discuss and formulate policy on matters related to the country’s internal and external security – to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.

The South Asian nation, which shares 2,670-kilometer-long border with Afghanistan, has asked the international community since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban on August 15 to extend humanitarian and economic aid to the war-ravaged country to avert regional instability and threat of global terrorism.

In this backdrop, the prime minister directed the establishment of a “dedicated cell to synergize various streams of efforts on Afghanistan across the government, including international coordination for humanitarian assistance and effective border management to prevent any negative spillover into Pakistan,” said a statement issued after the meeting.

The meeting was attended by relevant federal cabinet members, all services chiefs, and heads of intelligence services.

The committee members emphasized that the evolving situation in the region was “extremely complex” and any instability in Afghanistan could have severe implications for Pakistan.

“Agreeing with this view, the Prime Minister stressed the need for a coordinated policy effort,” the statement added.

The prime minister received a detailed briefing on the evolving regional security situation, particularly the recent developments in Afghanistan and their possible impact on Pakistan.

The statement said the committee reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable and sovereign Afghanistan.

“The participants noted, with concern, the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and emphasized the urgent need for the international community to provide assistance to avert a humanitarian crisis,” it continued.

The importance of international coordination on constructive political and economic engagement with the interim government in Afghanistan was also highlighted during the meeting.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction on Pakistan’s support to the international evacuation effort from Afghanistan and noted that the entire world had recognized Pakistan’s positive contribution.

Earlier, speaking to reporters after the meeting, Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the meeting had lasted for about two hours and was attended by the entire political and military leadership including the army, air force, navy and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chiefs.

“The detailed discussion is done on all national issues including Afghanistan,” Ahmed said. “But none of these things can be talked about publicly.”