By Khawaja Hamza

Islamabad- Pakistan and the United Kingdom held their annual Counterterrorism Dialogue in Islamabad, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Dr. Fareha Bugti, Director General (Counterterrorism), while the UK delegation was headed by Thomas Barry, Director for National and Economic Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The UK expressed condolences over the loss of innocent lives in terrorist attacks in Pakistan and reiterated its support for the country in the fight against terrorism.

Both sides held detailed discussions on the evolving global and regional security situation and exchanged views on threats posed by terrorist organisations, including transnational networks. They expressed concern over the continued activities of terrorist groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating in and from Afghanistan, and stressed the need for a stable and secure Afghanistan to ensure lasting regional peace and prosperity.

The two sides also reviewed ongoing bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Discussions also focused on sharing best practices and exploring new areas of cooperation to address emerging terrorist trends, including misinformation and disinformation campaigns, the exploitation of social media platforms and emerging technologies.

Both sides acknowledged Pakistan’s contributions to regional stability and security and agreed to strengthen institutional ties and maintain regular engagement to advance their shared counterterrorism objectives.

It was agreed that the next round of the Pakistan-UK Counterterrorism Dialogue would be held in London in 2027 on mutually agreed dates.