Pakistan and the United States have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation against key militant groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), ISIS-Khorasan, and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The agreement came during a counterterrorism dialogue held in Islamabad on August 12, 2025, a day after Washington designated the Pakistan-based BLA as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. The talks were co-chaired by Nabeel Munir, Pakistan’s Special Secretary for the U.N., and Gregory D. LoGerfo, Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State.
In a joint statement, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to combat terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations” and stressed the importance of sustained, structured engagement to promote peace and stability. They also emphasised building stronger institutional frameworks, enhancing capabilities to address security challenges, and countering the use of emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
The U.S. commended Pakistan’s “continued successes” in containing terrorist groups that threaten regional and global security, while both nations pledged to work closely in multilateral forums, including the United Nations.
The BLA, blacklisted in 2019 after a series of deadly attacks, has remained active, recently claiming responsibility for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of backing the group.
Ties between Islamabad and Washington have improved in recent months, marked by high-level visits, including Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s meetings with U.S. leaders, among them President Donald Trump.
