Senior officials of Pakistan and Russia agreed on Tuesday to improve their collaboration in the fight against terrorism, particularly in Afghanistan and in the broader region, since both nations face growing security threats from armed militant groups, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The meeting, held in Moscow as part of the eleventh session of the Joint Pakistan-Russian working group to counteract international terrorism, key officials from both sides attended.
The delegation of Pakistan, directed by the special secretary (United Nations) Nabeel Munir, and the side of Russia, directed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Vershinin, focused on the evolutionary nature of terrorism in the region. Both delegations discussed strategies to combat the increasingly transnational nature of terrorism.
Pakistan has long expressed concern about the growing cross-border attacks, particularly the forbidden Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which he says originates in Afghanistan. Kabul has denied these accusations.
Similarly, Russia continues to deal with the threat raised by Daesh’s militants, highlighted by the mortal March 22, 2024, attack in the City Council of Crocus de Moscow, which left more than 140 dead and many more wounded.
The conversations emphasized the need for adaptive and cooperative approaches to counteract these evolving threats. Discussions also underlined the importance of collective action to guarantee regional and global security.
The working group, which provides a platform to share experiences and strategies in the fight against terrorism, concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthen ties. The next meeting of the working group will be scheduled for 2026.
The 2023 meeting of the group, held on November 16, focused on national strategies to combat terrorism, marking a continuation of the growing cooperation between Pakistan and Russia to address shared security challenges.
