In a significant step towards enhancing regional and global security, the U.S.-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue was held on Friday, co-chaired by U.S. Department of State Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Elizabeth Richard and Pakistan’s Additional Foreign Secretary for the UN and OIC Ambassador Syed Haider Shah. This dialogue marks a continued effort to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation between the two nations.
The discussions highlighted several critical aspects of counterterrorism efforts, with a particular focus on combating terrorist organizations such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-Khorasan. The dialogue served as a platform to address the evolving counterterrorism landscape in the region, emphasizing mutual interests and strategic cooperation.
Both U.S. and Pakistani officials underscored the necessity of expanding counterterrorism collaboration and capacity building. The dialogue highlighted several key initiatives:
- Technical Expertise and Best Practices: Exchange programs aimed at sharing technical expertise and best practices between the two countries.
- Investigative and Prosecutorial Assistance: Strengthening the capabilities of law enforcement and judicial bodies through collaborative investigative and prosecutorial assistance.
- Border Security Infrastructure and Training: Improving border security infrastructure and providing training programs. Since the last dialogue in March 2023, the U.S. has trained over 300 Pakistani police officers and frontline responders.
- Multilateral Engagement: Enhancing cooperation within international frameworks such as the United Nations and the Global Counterterrorism Forum.
The United States and Pakistan acknowledged that a robust partnership is crucial for countering the threats posed by ISIS-Khorasan, TTP, and other terrorist groups. This collaboration aims to enhance security in the region and set a precedent for bilateral and regional cooperation in tackling transnational terrorism threats.
The joint statement from the dialogue reaffirms both nations’ commitment to maintaining open channels of communication and continuing their joint efforts to detect and deter violent extremism. The dialogue emphasized a whole-of-government approach, ensuring that all relevant agencies and departments work in concert to address these challenges.
The U.S.-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue represents a shared determination to bolster regional and global security. Through expanded cooperation, capacity building, and multilateral engagement, the United States and Pakistan aim to create a more secure and stable environment, addressing the pressing challenges posed by terrorism in the region.
