US, Pakistan emphasize ‘expanded counterterrorism collaboration’

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – With a focus on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh/ISIS-Khorasan, the US and Pakistan have emphasized on “expanded counterterrorism collaboration.”

This was discussed during Pakistan-US Counterterrorism Dialogue held in Washington last week, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

The Counterterrorism Dialogue “underscores the cooperation between Pakistan and the US in addressing the most pressing challenges to regional and global security, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-Khorasan,” said the ministry in a statement.

While discussing the “counterterrorism landscape in the region, with a focus on areas of mutual interest, the statement said Islamabad and Washington “recognize that a partnership to counter ISIS-Khorasan, TTP, and other terrorist organizations will advance security in the region and serve as a model of bilateral and regional cooperation to address transnational terrorism threats.”

Pakistani and US senior officials, the statement noted, “emphasized the importance of expanded counterterrorism collaboration and capacity building, including exchanges of technical expertise and best practices, investigative and prosecutorial assistance, provision of border security infrastructure and training.”

It said the US trained more than 300 police and frontline responders since the last Pakistan-US Counterterrorism Dialogue led in March last year.

The two sides also emphasized on strengthening multilateral engagement such as in the UN and the Global Counterterrorism Forum.

It added that the two sides will “increase communication on these topics and continue collaboration to detect and deter violent extremism through whole-of-government approaches.”

The talks on “expanded counterterrorism collaboration" between Islamabad and Washington come as Pakistan accuses neighboring Afghanistan of failing to prevent militants from the outlawed TTP, a conglomerate of various militant groups, from carrying out attacks in Pakistan before returning to Afghanistan for refuge.

​​​​​​​Afghanistan has denied the charges.