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By Iftikhar Ali
WASHINGTON, Jun 12 (APP):A top U.S. military commander told American lawmakers that Pakistan has been a “phenomenal partner in counterterrorism” and is currently engaged in key efforts to combating international terror outfits, including Afghanistan-based ISIS-Khorasan.
Appearing at a Congressional hearing, General Michael Kurilla, Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), also made a case for the U.S. fostering close relationships with Pakistan and India, which went to one of the deadliest conflicts in May.
“They are in an active counterterrorism fight right now, and they have been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world,” General Michael Kurilla, Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), said while testifying at a Congressional hearing.
His comments come as the U.S.-Pakistan cooperation in the fight against international terrorist groups has expanded in recent months.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has also stepped up its fight against militants on the Afghan border.
In this regard, Pakistan says that India was behind terrorist attacks in Balochistan and sponsoring the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating out of their safe havens in Afghanistan.
New Delhi blamed Pakistan, without producing any evidence, for the April 22 attack that killed 26 people in Pahalgam tourist resort in the Indian occupied Kashmir. Islamabad categorically denied the charge.
Amid heightened tensions, India fired missiles into civilian areas of Pakistani cities on May 7, saying it was taking action against terrorist sites. Pakistan retaliated by downing six Indian warplanes, including French Rafales. The two countries stopped the conflict on May 10 after US President Donald Trump pressured them to agree on a ceasefire.
At the testimony, the CENTCOM Chief told the House Armed Services Committee that Washington should pursue ties with both countries on the merits and gains it could have from the relationships with the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.
“We need to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can’t have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India,” he said.
“We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has.”
Gen Kurilla commended Pakistan’s military’s actions against ISIS-Khorasan under Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The U.S. commander noted Pakistan carrying out “dozens of operations” along its Afghanistan border, especially against Afghanistan-based ISIS-Khorasan.
According to Kurilla, ISIS-Khorasan is working to stage attacks worldwide, including the United States.
“Through a phenomenal partnership with Pakistan, they have gone after ISIS-Khorasan, killing dozens of them. Through a relationship we have with them, [and] providing intelligence, they have captured at least five ISIS-Khorasan high-value individuals,” he said.
In this context, he cited Pakistan’s capture of Mohammad Sharifullah alias Jafar, who is blamed for being behind the 2021 Kabul airport suicide attack that killed 13 American military personnel during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“The actions of our Pakistani partners that led to the arrest and extradition of Mohammad Sharifullah, the ISIS-K planner behind the 26 August 2021 suicide attack at Abbey Gate that killed 13 U.S. service members and approximately 160 civilians, highlights Pakistan’s value as a Partner in countering CASA terror EXOPs threats worldwide, and it will only increase as the Taliban continues to face security challenges within its borders.” Gen. Kurilla noted in a written testimony.
During the hearing, the U.S. General recalled that “the first person (Pakistani Army Chief) Munir called was me and said, ‘I’ve caught him (Sharifullah), I’m willing to extradite him back to the US. Please tell the secretary of defense and the president.”
The CENTCOM commander also noted that Pakistan has experienced more than 1,000 terrorist attacks since the start of 2024 and lost 700 security personnel in addition to 2,500 civilian casualties.