By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Army General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command (Centcom), called Pakistan a “phenomenal partner” in counter-terrorism efforts, citing the country’s role in combating groups like the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) amid persistent violence in Balochistan province.
Speaking at a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, Kurilla emphasised the deepening cooperation between the United States and Pakistan in addressing shared security threats.
The general’s praise follows a counter-terrorism dialogue held between the two nations on May 10 in Washington, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration. That meeting highlighted the importance of joint efforts to counter the threats posed by groups such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and IS-K, which remain significant challenges to regional and global security. Another round of counter-terrorism talks is scheduled for later this month, reflecting the sustained partnership between the two countries.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Kurilla addressed instability along the Afghan-Pakistan border, pointing to Pakistan’s success in targeting IS-K operatives. He outlined Pakistan’s significant contributions to the fight against IS-K, noting that the country has apprehended several “high-value” operatives from the group.
He cited the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, an Afghan national known as Jaffar, linked to the Abbey Gate bombing, a deadly attack that drew international attention.
“Through a relationship we have with them and providing intelligence, they have captured at least five ISIS Khorasan high-value individuals,” Kurilla said. “They have extradited back Jaffar, who was one of the key individuals behind the Abbey Gate bombing.”
The general also noted that Pakistan has “gone after ISIS Khorasan (IS-K) killing dozens of them,” signaling the intensity of its operations.
Kurilla recounted a call from Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir after Sharifullah’s capture. “He said, ‘I’ve caught him, I’m willing to extradite him back to the United States, please tell the secretary of defense and the president,’” the general recalled.
The Centcom commander said Pakistan has killed dozens of IS-K fighters, underscoring its aggressive stance. “We’re seeing Pakistan — with limited intelligence that we provided them — go after them using their means, and we’re seeing an effect on ISIS Khorasan.”
Pakistan faces its own security struggles, with Kurilla noting 1,000 terrorist attacks in its western regions since January 2024. “They are in an active counter-terrorism fight right now,” he said. “They have been a phenomenal partner in the counter-terrorism world.”
On broader U.S. strategy, Kurilla rejected the notion of choosing between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed neighbors with a history of rivalry. “We have to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India,” he said. “I don’t believe it’s a binary switch that we can’t have one with Pakistan if we have one with India. We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has.”
The arrest of Sharifullah has drawn high-level U.S. attention. In a March address to Congress, President Donald Trump hailed Pakistan’s role. “Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice,” Trump said. “I want to thank especially the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster.”
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