ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The commitment was reiterated during the annual Pakistan–UK Bilateral Counter-Terrorism Dialogue held in Islamabad on Wednesday, according to a Foreign Office statement.
Dr. Fareha Bugti, Director General (CT), led the Pakistan delegation, while Thomas Barry, Director for National and Economic Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), headed the UK delegation.
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Pakistan-UK Counterterrorism Dialogue
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The UK side expressed its condolences over the loss of innocent lives in terrorist attacks in the South Asian nation and reaffirmed its solidarity with the country in its fight against terrorism.
Evolving global and regional security landscape
The two sides held detailed and constructive discussions on the evolving global and regional security landscape and exchanged views on the threats posed by terrorist entities, including transnational terrorist networks, according to the statement.
Both sides expressed concern over the continued threat posed by terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating in and from Afghanistan.
They underscored the importance of a stable and secure Afghanistan as essential to ensuring lasting peace and prosperity across the region.
The dialogue also focused on the exchange of best practices and exploring new avenues for partnership to counter new trends in terrorism, including misinformation/disinformation campaigns, exploitation of social media platforms, and emerging technologies.
Both sides acknowledged Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace and security. Islamabad and London agreed to further strengthen institutional cooperation and sustain regular engagement to advance their shared counter-terrorism objectives.
It was agreed that the next round of the Counter Terrorism Dialogue will be held in London, UK in 2027 on mutually agreed dates.
Pakistan witnesses sharp rise in cross-border terrorist attacks
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
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The country recorded its highest monthly number of terrorist attacks in 12 years in September 2026, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based independent think tank.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by terrorist organisations to launch attacks inside the country.
Pakistan maintains that the Afghan Taliban authorities have failed to take effective action against groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians.
