Islamabad – On August 12, the United States and Pakistan reaffirmed a longstanding counterterrorism partnership, with a bilateral counterterrorism dialogue focusing on common threats, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-Khorasan. The meeting held in the US Embassy in Islamabad emphasized the significance of continued interaction in fighting terrorism in the region and promoting stability.

The Joint Statement on the US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue, released by the US State Department, indicated the main aspects of the dialogue. Co-chaired by the Special Secretary for the United Nations Ambassador Nabeel Munir and the US Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Gregory D. LoGerfo, both delegations highlighted the importance of effective measures against terrorist threats.

The statement in particular cited the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), ISIS-Khorasan, and the TTP as groups of shared concern. The US also expressed condolences for the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, the Jaffar Express incident, and the bombing of a school bus in Khuzdar.

The statement on Pakistan-US Counter-Terrorism Dialogue Joint by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that, “The United States applauded Pakistan’s continued successes to contain terrorist entities that pose a threat to the peace and security of the region and the world.”

The discussion comes at a time when Pakistan is dealing with the revival of militant attacks, especially in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The TTP has demonstrated renewed operational capability, partly as a result of a major acquisition of US military equipment abandoned in Afghanistan following the withdrawal. This has played a major role in the group’s capability to launch more advanced attacks, a factor that is observed by Pakistani officials as well as independent analysts.

Michael Kugelman, an expert on South Asia, said in response to the recent dialogue that, “The US-Pakistan counterterrorism dialogue joint statement is one of the most positive and effusive I’ve seen from these two countries on CT for quite a few years. It reads like something from the immediate post-9/11 years.”

Historical Context and Renewed Ties

The US and Pakistan have a contentious history of security collaboration, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when Islamabad played a crucial role in US military operations in Afghanistan under the US-led War on Terror.

Relations have since gone sour several times over terrorism and security concerns and were at their worst during the final government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who openly blamed Washington for collaborating with his political opponents and the army to get him out of office, a claim all three denied.

The relationship has warmed again under the Trump administration, with both countries indicating their readiness to strengthen military, counterterrorism, and economic relations.

This renewed engagement is particularly notable in recent high-level military exchanges. The Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, Field Marshal Asim Munir, recently completed his second visit to the United States in a month and a half, describing the trip as a “new dimension” in bilateral ties.

His earlier five-day official visit in June was especially noteworthy, where he had lunch with US President Donald Trump in a cordial meeting, becoming the first serving army chief to have an official face-to-face meeting with a sitting US president. President Trump, in particular, praised the efforts of Pakistan to bring peace and stability in the region and admired the counterterrorism collaboration between the two nations.

Earlier this year, in June, United States Central Command commander Army General Michael Kurilla had lauded Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner in the world of counterterrorism”, citing the efforts of the country in combating terrorism in Balochistan and against terrorist organizations like the IS-K.

After apparently negotiating a significant tariff discount and attracting US investor interest in its oil and mineral reserves, Pakistan seems to be in cordial relations with the US.