The United States of America has recently been dropping clues that it may be considering restarting anti-terror programs from the time period following 9/11. Pakistan
Notwithstanding the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Afghan disengagement, a statement indicated that the United States wants to continue working with Pakistan to combat terrorism.
ISLAMABAD – To help Pakistan combat the rising threat of terrorism posed by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups, the United States on Tuesday hinted at revisiting some of the counterterrorism measures of the post-9/11 era.
The development happened at the end of the two-day counterterrorism meeting that Pakistan convened in response to a recent upsurge in terrorism.
Christopher Landberg, acting coordinator for counterterrorism at the US Department of State, and Syed Haider Shah, additional secretary for the UN and economic diplomacy at the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presided over the two-day policy-focused discussion.
According to a statement from the US Embassy, the dialogue offered a chance to talk about the counterterrorism environment in Pakistan and the surrounding area, with a focus on areas where the US and Pakistan can work together more effectively to counter regional and international threats, enhance cooperation, prevent and counter violent extremism, and combat the financing of terrorism.
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In order to help Pakistan more effectively combat all kinds of violent extremism, both countries “agreed to increase conversation on these themes and continue considering paths to relaunch or implement counterterrorism programmes,” according to the statement.
The assertion made in the statement implied that despite withdrawing troops from neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021, the US still wanted to continue working with Pakistan on counterterrorism.
Once the US left Afghanistan, there were worries that it may utterly forsake Pakistan. The current flurry of engagements, according to observers, seems to suggest otherwise.
According to a US statement, the debate on counterterrorism highlights the two countries’ growing cooperation in a number of sectors.
High-level bilateral meetings, such as the recently finished Trade and Investment Framework (TIFA) Council Ministerial in Washington, DC, and the upcoming Strategic Energy Dialogue and Climate and Environment Working Group meetings in Pakistan, are helping to advance these partnerships, the statement said.
According to the US readout, “the counterterrorism dialogue is only one example of an ever-stronger bilateral relationship based on shared values and interests, and it reinforces the United States’ and Pakistan’s shared desire to contribute to both regional and global security and stability.
The two-day discussions, according to a separate statement from the Foreign Office, covered a variety of subjects, including counterterrorism cooperation at multilateral forums, evaluation of the regional counterterrorism scene, cyber security, and combating violent extremism.
The US aid programs in Pakistan were discussed, with a focus on strengthening the judiciary and anti-money laundering sectors. Both parties emphasized how crucial these projects are to strengthening Pakistan’s ability to combat terrorism.
The two parties discussed their respective approaches to preventing the funding of terrorists. They reaffirmed their resolve to combat terrorism in all of its guises and incarnations as a global danger.
They also concurred to carry on the conversation and improve their comprehension of the terrorism threat.
