Speakers at an international conference organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) have called for stronger regional and international cooperation, effective border management and intelligence-sharing to counter terrorism and address cross-border security threats.
ISSI conference calls for regional cooperation to counter cross-border terrorism
ISLAMABAD, Oct 13 (APP): Speakers at an international conference organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) have called for stronger regional and international cooperation, effective border management and intelligence-sharing to counter terrorism and address cross-border security threats.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar attended the conference titled “Pakistan’s Evolving Counterterrorism Landscape: TTP, Cross-Border Threats and Regional Security” as the chief guest, said a press release issued on Tuesday.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, in his keynote address, highlighted the immense sacrifices Pakistan had made over the past four decades in the war against terrorism.
In working Session I, moderated by Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad, Ambassador Abrar Hussain, Pakistan’s Former Ambassador to Afghanistan highlighted militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan and growing tactical convergence between the TTP and BLA, calling for coordinated diplomatic engagement with Kabul involving China, Russia and Iran. Giorgio Cafiero, CEO & Founder, Gulf State Analytics, USA observed that Gulf states seek Pakistan’s stability while maintaining engagement with Kabul, although their diplomatic channels have yet to translate into meaningful leverage over the Taliban.
Naseem Zehra, Anchor & Security Analyst stressed that counterterrorism must address recruitment drivers through legal accountability, constitutional political space, and civilian-led prevention.
In working Session II, moderated by Dr. Shabana Fayyaz, Ambassador Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Former Special Representative on Afghanistan called for sustained dialogue with Afghanistan, effective border management, and protection of legitimate trade
Professor Joseph Siracusa, Professor of Human Security and International Diplomacy at the Royal Melbourne, Australia advocated intelligence-led counterterrorism, lawful accountability, disengagement pathways, and greater international recognition of Pakistan’s sacrifices.
Ambassador James Watt CVO Partner, The Ambassador Partnership LLP, London emphasised the rule of law, state sovereignty, and regional cooperation, highlighting emerging security threats and the potential of Pakistan’s defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to support strategic coordination.
In working session III, moderated by Dr. Salma Malik, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan called for stronger international cooperation and effective implementation of UN sanctions to address terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Major General Zahid Mehmood Principal, NUST Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies cited 225 militant attacks in Pakistan in September 2026, underscoring the importance of border management and regional cooperation, while clarifying that Pakistan’s actions target terrorist infrastructure, not the Afghan people.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs, USA advocated pragmatic US–Pakistan counterterrorism cooperation, regional coordination, and separating shared security interests from broader geopolitical rivalries.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Governors, ISSI, called for a comprehensive counterterrorism framework to address the TTP and BLA threats, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace through intelligence-sharing, coordinated action, respect for sovereignty, and rejection of terrorism as an instrument of strategic leverage.
The conference brought together senior policymakers, diplomats, security experts and academics from Pakistan and abroad to extensively debate on the evolving counter terrorism landscape in the region, threat posed by terrorist groups based in Afghanistan to Pakistan and the broader region and the need for closer and sustained cooperation amongst the regional and international partners to comprehensively counter the growing threat.
