U.S.-Pakistan Team Up on Terror Tech
Islamabad: The United States and Pakistan, through their Counterterrorism Dialogue held in Islamabad today, reaffirmed their commitment to combat terrorism, targeting groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), ISIS-Khorasan, and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Co-chaired by Pakistan’s Special Secretary for the United Nations, Nabeel Munir, and U.S. Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Gregory D. LoGerfo, the joint statement outlines plans to strengthen institutional frameworks, address terrorists’ use of emerging technologies, and deepen cooperation in global forums to counter threats affecting regional and international security.
The dialogue addressed specific terrorist groups. The BLA, a separatist faction in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, was behind attacks like the Jaffar Express bombing. ISIS-Khorasan, active in Afghanistan and linked to incidents like the 2021 Kabul airport attack, poses a cross-border threat. TTP, responsible for the Khuzdar school bus bombing, has targeted civilians and security forces. The U.S. expressed condolences for the lives lost in these attacks, acknowledging Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to curb these groups, which destabilise South Asia and beyond.
Both nations emphasised building stronger systems to address security challenges, particularly focusing on countering terrorists’ use of technologies such as drones or encrypted communications. The statement highlighted the need for enhanced capabilities to disrupt these threats. Additionally, the U.S. and Pakistan committed to working together in multilateral settings, including the United Nations with its 174 member states, to promote effective counterterrorism strategies. This builds on a long-standing partnership, exemplified by actions like the U.S. designating BLA as a terrorist organisation and Pakistan extraditing a Daesh-K operative.
The dialogue underscored the importance of sustained engagement to address evolving threats. By focusing on institutional improvements and technological countermeasures, both countries aim to stay ahead of groups exploiting new tools. Their pledge to collaborate globally reflects an intent to align counterterrorism efforts with broader international priorities, though coordinating across diverse nations presents challenges. The statement reflects a continuation of joint efforts to ensure stability in a region marked by persistent violence from groups like BLA, TTP, and ISIS-K.
– global bihari bureau
