US Central Command Chief Terms Pakistan Key Partner in War Against Terrorism

Islamabad: US Central Command Chief General Michael Erik Kurilla has declared Pakistan a key partner in the war against terrorism: Speaking at the US Senate Armed Services Committee, he said the entire world recognizes Pakistan’s positive and active role in counterterrorism efforts. He emphasized that Pakistan’s partnership is proving to be extremely crucial and effective in the global counterterrorism landscape.

According to Radio Pakistan, General Michael Erik Kurilla highlighted that Daesh-Khorasan is currently among the most active terrorist organizations globally. He said that through close intelligence cooperation with Pakistan, dozens of Daesh-Khorasan terrorists have been killed and apprehended. Among those arrested were at least five high-profile leaders of the organization.

The CENTCOM Chief said Daesh-Khorasan is active along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He added that over 1,000 terrorist attacks have taken place in Pakistan’s western regions since the beginning of 2024. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of around 700 security personnel and civilians, with over 2,500 injured.

General Michael Erik Kurilla said Daesh-Khorasan is getting weaker and its activities have significantly declined because of the heavy losses inflicted upon them in recent months. Besides, the CENTCOM Chief emphasized the importance of maintaining ties with both Pakistan and India. He remarked that he does not think that having relations with Pakistan can strain US relations with India.