U.S.-Pakistan Cooperation on Counterterrorism Remains Crucial: State Department
Washington, March 7, 2025 – The United States has reaffirmed the importance of its counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan, emphasizing their shared commitment to combating regional and global security threats.
In a recent development, Pakistani authorities, with intelligence support from the CIA, detained Mohammad Sharifullah, a high-ranking ISIS-K commander linked to the 2021 Kabul airport bombing. The arrest highlights the continued intelligence-sharing and counterterrorism collaboration between the two nations.
In a press briefing on March 6, 2025, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized the critical importance of this partnership. She extended gratitude to the Pakistani government for their role in capturing Sharifullah and stated, “We have a common interest in fighting terrorism.” Her remarks underscored the shared commitment of both nations to enhancing regional and global security.
U.S. officials have reiterated that Pakistan remains a vital partner in the fight against extremist organizations, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-Khorasan. The U.S. Department of State stated that both countries have been actively working together to enhance border security, technical capacity, and investigative capabilities to counter emerging threats.
This development follows the May 2024 U.S.-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue, where both sides pledged to strengthen joint efforts against terrorism. Since March 2023, the U.S. has provided specialized training to over 300 Pakistani police officers and security personnel, further reinforcing their collaboration.
As security challenges continue to evolve, the U.S. and Pakistan’s enduring partnership remains a key element in ensuring stability in the region.