Pakistan-US Counterterrorism Cooperation Takes Big Strides Forward
American and Pakistani officials pose for a group photograph during the bilateral Counterterrorism Dialogue, held at Islamabad, Pakistan, on August 12, 2025.
The Pakistan-United States defense relationship has entered a promising new phase.
On August 11, the U.S. State Department designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a 'foreign terrorist organization.' In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move 'demonstrates the Trump Administration's commitment to countering terrorism.'
The BLA, which is responsible for deadly attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan province, was labeled a 'specially designated global terrorist' (SDGT) organization in 2019. With the FTO designation, the militant group now faces a tougher operational environment. BLA members worldwide will come under increased scrutiny, travel restrictions, and financial sanctions in the U.S. and the European Union. They will, therefore, encounter more difficulties in fundraising, recruitment, and cross-border movement. This designation aligns the U.S. more closely with Pakistan's security priorities and could facilitate greater intelligence-sharing and coordinated efforts to dismantle the BLA's networks.
The growing bilateral partnership is likely driven by high-level meetings and efforts to fight militant threats in the region. This is highly important from Pakistan's perspective as it will impact the country's security, economic progress, and global reputation.
Foremost among the high-level meetings driving the security cooperation is Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir's visits to the United States. He has visited the U.S. twice in recent months, in June and August, which reflects a renewed commitment to strengthening military and strategic ties with Washington.
On August 10, Munir attended the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) change-of-command ceremony and held high-level discussions with U.S. military and political leaders. This visit built on earlier meetings, including a notable lunch with U.S. President Donald Trump in June.
Munir's interactions seem focused on pushing cooperation in the fields of counterterrorism, trade, and regional stability. His efforts have added a 'new dimension' to Pakistan-U.S. ties and have served to shift relations from an era of coldness that followed the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan four years ago to a new partnership based on shared security goals.
The bilateral relationship is not just confined to leadership-level statements but is being followed up with delegation-level talks. Many ideas emerging from this dialogue are at the implementation phase.
On August 12, Pakistan and the United States conducted a joint Counterterrorism Dialogue to deepen cooperation in the area. The Counterterrorism Dialogue was co-chaired by Pakistan's Special Secretary to the United Nations, Nabeel Munir, and U.S. Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Gregory D. LoGerfo. It emphasized joint efforts to combat militant groups like BLA, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This is the first time in a long time that bilateral dialogue between the U.S. and Pakistan included discussion of militant groups like the BLA and TTP that Pakistan perceives as national security threats.
For Pakistan, these developments are highly impactful. The BLA's terrorist designation and the resulting global pressure on its members will strengthen Pakistan's efforts against terrorism, especially in Balochistan and along the Afghan border. Moreover, the expected increase in U.S. support could improve Pakistan's counterterrorism capabilities through better training, technology, and intelligence.
However, Pakistan must carefully manage this partnership to maintain its strategic autonomy and balance relations with the U.S., China, and regional powers like Iran. The strengthened Pakistan-U.S. relationship could boost Pakistan's role as a regional stabilizer amid Middle Eastern tensions and ongoing rivalries with India.
The evolving Pakistan-U.S. defense relationship, which is marked by high-level engagements and counterterrorism cooperation, provides Pakistan with a chance to bolster its security. However, the cooperation, even after all expressions of interest from both sides, may not grow to the level that existed when U.S. troops were stationed in Afghanistan.
Still, it is good news for Pakistan as it has been trying to win Washington's support for its counterterrorism efforts, citing them as a threat to the global community. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently told a visiting U.S. delegation that Islamabad 'stands as a wall between terrorism and the rest of the world.' He urged the international community to extend full cooperation to Pakistan, stressing that groups like the TTP are a global threat.
In a notable statement on Pakistan's Independence Day, Rubio expressed strong appreciation for Pakistan's efforts in counterterrorism and commerce.
The BLA's designation as a terrorist group and the inclusion of the TTP in the Pakistan-U.S. counterterrorism dialogue show that Pakistan has been able to convince Washington that these groups are a mutual security concern.
Going forward, Pakistan needs to navigate its emerging partnership with the U.S. strategically, ensuring it develops into more than just transactional cooperation. It is only then that Pakistan can truly reap the benefits of this cooperation, especially in terms of counterterrorism gains.
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