ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb has reached its final stage and the next phase will be the ideological battle to defeat the terrorist mindset. He was addressing the concluding session of the “National Counter Extremism Workshop” held under the auspices of National Counter Terrorism Authority in Islamabad this evening. The Interior Minister said that there is a need to pool up human and national resources to bring positive change in society. He called upon the religious scholars, media persons, politicians and opinion leaders to design a coordinated strategy in this regard. Meanwhile, during the meeting with US Ambassador David Hale, the Interior Minister expressed Pakistan’s concerns over the statements of some US Congressmen. He said Pakistan had paid a heavy price in the war on terror. They discussed matters pertaining to bilateral relations and the regional situation. The Interior Minister also met with a high-profile Chinese delegation led by Minister of State for Security Geng Huichang in Islamabad on Thursday. Talking to the Chinese delegation, Chaudhry Nisar said that Pakistan, at all levels, is committed to thwart conspiracies against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Interior Minister said that both sides must be cautious about regional and global powers who do not want to see CPEC for their own interests.