US reiterates commitment to supporting Pakistan in counterterrorism efforts

The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan in its battle against terrorism, with State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller highlighting the close collaboration between Washington and Islamabad to strengthen counterterrorism capabilities.

This cooperation comes as country grapples with a surge in militant activity, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province and the southwestern region of Balochistan.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Miller confirmed that the US continues to maintain a strong counterterrorism partnership with Pakistan, which includes regular dialogues and consultations aimed at enhancing both civilian and military efforts to combat terrorism.

He emphasised the importance of detecting and countering terrorist threats as part of their shared objectives.

KP province has seen an uptick in militant attacks in recent months, with Islamabad blaming Afghan nationals and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, who reportedly cross over from Afghanistan. However, the Taliban government in Kabul has denied these allegations, asserting that Pakistan's security issues are its internal matter.

Balochistan, has also witnessed increased attacks by separatist ethnic militants this year, contributing to the growing security concerns in the country.

Miller condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including the deaths of eight soldiers in the KP and the abduction of seven police officers near the Afghan border. “We condemn these and all terrorist attacks,” he said, reaffirming the US’s commitment to helping Pakistan build capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to militant threats.

On the same day, Pakistan announced a "comprehensive military operation" aimed at tackling separatist militant groups in Balochistan. While the details of the operation remain unclear, the government has indicated its intention to deploy security forces to address the insurgency in the region.