Pakistan and the United States have renewed their commitment to enhancing counterterrorism cooperation, vowing to jointly tackle the threats posed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups endangering their citizens and regional stability. This pledge was made during the fourth US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue held on Tuesday in Washington.
The dialogue was led by US Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Gregory LoGerfo and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Special Secretary Ambassador Nabeel Munir. Both sides emphasized united action against terrorist organizations, including the banned Daesh (ISIS-K), al-Qaida (AQ), the TTP, and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) along with its affiliates.
In a significant development, the two governments committed to deepening their counterterrorism collaboration to ensure the safety and security of their populations, aiming for lasting regional peace, prosperity, and stability. The dialogue highlighted the shared interests and determination of both countries to confront terrorism effectively.
Delegations exchanged insights on the current threat landscape, explored ways to improve cooperation, and discussed measures to enhance border security and disrupt networks facilitating terrorism.
Pakistan has experienced a notable increase in terrorist incidents, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in 2021. Islamabad has consistently accused India of supporting militant groups operating from Afghan territory to conduct attacks inside Pakistan. It has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban-led administration to take decisive action against terrorist organizations using Afghanistan as a base for cross-border attacks.
After expressing concerns over Kabul’s failure to act, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February this year in response to cross-border militant attacks originating from Afghanistan. Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for national unity against terrorism, asserting that India’s involvement in terrorist activities within Pakistan was “absolutely clear.” Speaking at the Balochistan National Workshop in Islamabad on July 17, the premier stated that India-sponsored terrorism has claimed the lives of more than 90,000 Pakistanis.
