Islamabad, May 9 : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was briefed by Chief of Army Staff, General  Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani on the security situation in Balochistan on Friday, and on the efforts being made to engage nationalist groups in the southern province in peace talks.

The army provided "a full spectrum security analysis of the situation, including efforts undertaken to stabilise the situation in Balochistan", said an official statement.

General Kiyani "underlined the significance of development works initiated by the government with the assistance of the army and Frontier Corps to improve the living conditions of the people in the province", the statement said.

During the meeting, Gilani spoke of the need to "synergise the efforts of all elements of national power towards attainment of peace and progress in Balochistan".

This, he said, would be done through a "comprehensive strategy based on political engagement, economic development and use of minimum force if at all required".

The federal government has already released former Balochistan Chief Minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other Baloch leaders.

During a visit to provincial capital Quetta last week, Gilani directed the federal and provincial governments to withdraw all cases against Mengal to pave the way for convening a conference of all political parties to usher in peace in Balochistan.

General Kiyani had briefed Gilani on the security situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in April.

The Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raeesani and senior officials, also attended the briefing. (ANI)