Afghanistan Peace Campaign
The White House National Security spokesperson stated that the people of Pakistan continue to suffer from terrorist attacks coming from the Afghanistan border. John Kirby emphasized that the United States will continue to cooperate with Pakistan in countering terrorism.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Kirby mentioned that Islamabad has never been a “formal ally” of the United States and that no official treaty has been signed between the two countries. However, he noted that the U.S. has collaborated with Pakistan over the past two decades in addressing terrorist threats along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Kirby further acknowledged that despite this, the U.S. and Pakistan have worked together for several decades to combat terrorism, which “still persists between Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
He emphasized that these threats continue to linger along the border, highlighting the ongoing nature of the security challenges in the region.
Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of supporting insurgents against the country, but the Taliban has consistently denied these allegations. Over the past three years, Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Afghan Taliban to expel the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants from Afghanistan and hand over their leaders.
Pakistan is experiencing a severe surge in militant violence, with 757 people killed and nearly as many injured in the first eight months of 2024, according to data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
For decades, Pakistan has been a key U.S. partner, first in the fight against Soviet influence in Afghanistan and later in the war on terrorism. However, during the two decades of U.S. and NATO presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan is said to have sheltered Taliban leaders, with former Afghan government officials claiming Islamabad supported the group’s insurgency.
The continuing tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan highlight the complexity of their relationship in the fight against terrorism. While cooperation persists, the historical grievances and ongoing security threats pose significant challenges to deeper bilateral collaboration.
As both countries navigate these issues, the future of their partnership will depend on continued diplomatic efforts to address mutual concerns, including counterterrorism measures and the stability of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.