Islamabad:Pakistan and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. This commitment was expressed during the annual Pakistan-UK Counter Terrorism Dialogue held in Islamabad.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Pakistan delegation was led by Director General Counter Terrorism Dr. Fareha Bugti, while the UK side was headed by Director for National and Economic Security in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Thomas Barry. The two sides held a detailed discussion on the evolving global and regional security environment and exchanged views on threats posed by terrorist entities, including transnational networks.
Both sides expressed concern over terrorist groups, including the TTP, operating in and from Afghanistan, highlighting the need for a stable Afghanistan for lasting peace in the region. The UK extended condolences over the loss of lives in Pakistan due to terrorist attacks and reiterated its support for Pakistan in counter-terrorism efforts.
Additionally, they reviewed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism and discussed the exchange of best practices and exploring new avenues for partnership. The dialogue also focused on countering new trends in terrorism, such as misinformation campaigns and the exploitation of social media platforms.
Both parties acknowledged Pakistan's contributions to regional stability and agreed to strengthen institutional linkages and maintain regular engagement to advance shared counter-terrorism objectives. It was decided that the next round of the dialogue will take place in London next year.