Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation to enhance regional and global security and stability.
In a joint statement issued today regarding the Pakistan-US Counterterrorism Dialogue held on May 10, both nations highlighted their collaborative efforts to address critical security challenges, including threats from terrorist organizations like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K).
The discussions focused on the regional counterterrorism landscape, emphasizing areas of mutual interest. Senior officials from both countries underscored the importance of expanding counterterrorism collaboration and capacity building, which includes technical expertise exchanges, investigative and prosecutorial support, border security infrastructure and training, and strengthening multilateral engagements through platforms like the UN and the Global Counterterrorism Forum.
The statement noted that since the last dialogue in March 2023, the US has trained over 300 police and frontline responders in Pakistan. Both countries recognized that their partnership in countering IS-K, TTP, and other terrorist organizations would enhance regional security and serve as a model for bilateral and regional cooperation against transnational terrorism.
The governments resolved to increase communication on these issues and continue collaborating to “detect and deter violent extremism through whole-of-government approaches.”
The previous meeting in March of the previous year reaffirmed their commitment to tackling the common threat of terrorism. Pakistan has experienced a rise in terrorist activities, particularly in KP and Balochistan, following the TTP’s termination of its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
According to an annual security report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan saw 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023, marking a six-year high. KP and Balochistan were the primary areas of violence, accounting for over 90% of all fatalities and 84% of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security operations.
May 14, 2024
Source: Dawn