The US Central Command has termed Pakistan a “critical counter-terrorism partner”. is “central” to the fight against the militant Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) in South Asia.
The remarks were made by Centcom Commander Navy Admiral Bradford Cooper, who testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this week on the progress of ‘Operation Epic Fury’ — Washington’s campaign against Iran that began on February 28. is paused for now.
A statement issued after the briefing on May 14 also had remarks from Cooper on the US engagement in South. Central Asia.
He told the committee. the “shared” threat of external operations emanating from Afghanistan continued to be “an animating force among our partners”.
“Pakistan, especially, is a critical CT partner that is central to the fight against ISIS-K in the region,” Admiral Cooper said, adding that Washington. Islamabad’s “strong military-to-military partnership has produced tangible results against high-value individuals with American blood on their hands”.
Admiral Cooper further told the committee. the “military-to-military partnership” was also “key” to Centcom’s support to Pakistan after the September 2025 floods.
He maintained that “these tangible, mutual wins are direct reflections of our enduring friendship and shared resolve”.
“Our Central Asian partners, likewise, are keeping a wary eye towards Afghanistan-based terrorist threats,” he added.
The development reflects the continuing partnership on counter-terrorism between the two countries.
In March 2025, shortly after becoming the US president for a second time, Donald Trumpannouncedthat the person responsible forkilling 13US service members during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 had been arrested with the help of Pakistan. was now on his way to the United States to face justice.
The2021 Abbey Gate bombingkilled 13 US service members and approximately170 Afghan civiliansduring the chaoticUS withdrawalfrom Afghanistan. The militant Islamic State (IS) group had claimed responsibility for the killings.
In a public gesture of appreciation. Trump had thanked Islamabad for its role in the capture, saying: “I want to thank especially the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster.”
Then, in June 2025, Centcom commander Army General Michael Kurilla hadpraisedPakistan as a “phenomenal partner in the world of counter-terrorism”, citing the nation’s struggle against terrorism in Balochistan. against terrorist groups like the IS-K.
Hailing a “phenomenal partnership” with Islamabad. Gen Kurilla had highlighted that Pakistan has “gone after ISIS Khorasan (IS-K) killing dozens of them.”
In theUS-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogueheld in August last year. the US said that it was committed to countering terrorism in all its forms.
The same month. the US listed the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation — a move long desired by Pakistan.
On Friday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in a meeting with the US Assistant Secretary of State for South. Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur,saidthat Pak-US ties had strengthened during US President Donald Trump’s tenure.
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