ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's top defence body has decided to make coordinated efforts to prevent and preempt acts of terrorism in view of the Taliban attack on the country's major naval air base in Karachi, officials said Thursday.  

The Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday night and decided that security, defence and law enforcement agencies will be authorized to use all means necessary to eliminate terrorists and militants.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs and spy agency chief, said a statement from the prime minister office.

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The DCC reviewed the security situation arising from terrorist attacks and issues relating to regional security and stability.

The chief of naval staff and the secretaries of defense, interior and foreign affairs briefed the DCC on the terrorist attack on the Pakistan Naval Station (PNS) Mehran, internal security and regional situation.

After in-depth discussions, it was decided that the national consensus on eliminating terrorism will be implemented through a well coordinated and comprehensive strategy with the full support of the people and state institutions at all levels.

The DCC expressed full confidence in the ability and the capacity of the armed forces and the law enforcement and intelligence agencies against all threats to national security. It was decided that the DCC will continue to meet regularly to further develop and update the counter-terrorism strategy, and to closely monitor the implementation of the strategy.

All citizens should extend their full cooperation with security and law enforcement agencies as well as defence forces to eliminate the menace of terrorism, said the statement.

National security is the foremost priority and all arms of the government will ensure that terrorists hideouts are being destroyed using all appropriate means, it said.