Russia–Pakistan Joint Meeting: Counterterrorism Tops the Agenda

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that during the 11th session of the Joint Working Group with Russia, both countries emphasized strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism in the region, especially in Afghanistan.

According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Islamabad and Moscow have called for collective efforts to safeguard regional and global stability.

The statement further said: “Both sides discussed the evolving threat of terrorism in Afghanistan and the broader region. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to enhance cooperation in confronting the shared challenges posed by terrorist groups.”

Mohammad Aslam Danishmal, a political affairs analyst, told : “Pakistan wants to portray Afghanistan as the source of its problems to the world. However, we urge Pakistan to reform and revise its own policies.”

Terrorism in Pakistan has been a recurrent theme that the country has raised in international forums as a challenge originating from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the caretaker government in Afghanistan has repeatedly dismissed these allegations as baseless.

Saleem Paigir, another political analyst, stated: “Pakistan’s true face has been exposed to the world. That’s why the country is trying to use every platform against the people of Afghanistan, aiming to label Afghans as terrorists in order to preserve the veil it has cast over its own conduct.”

Although a recent visit by a high-level Pakistani delegation to Kabul had raised hopes for improved bilateral engagement, it appears that certain security concerns, especially those related to terrorism, remain unresolved.