ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief on Monday said his country wanted continued bilateral engagement and an ‘enduring relationship’ with the United States, amid deteriorating ties between Washington and Islamabad over the way forward in a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
The statement comes after a visit earlier this month by US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.
Sherman came to Islamabad from India where she told a gathering Washington did not see itself building a “broad relationship” with Islamabad.
After meeting with Sherman, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan sought a “broad-based, long-term and lasting relationship” with the US that was grounded in economic cooperation and mutual promotion of peace in the region.
“Pakistan desires to maintain the tradition of bilateral engagement and wishes for an enduring relationship with United States,” the Pakistani military’s media wing quoted Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa as telling US Charge d’Affairs to Pakistan Angela Aggeler at a meeting in Rawalpindi.
“COAS also reiterated the need for global convergence on Afghanistan for avoiding humanitarian crisis and coordinated efforts for economic uplift of the Afghan people.”
The two figures discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation in various fields, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The US diplomat appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan, efforts for regional stability and pledged that the US would play its role to improve diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.
Despite being allies in the war on terror, Pakistan and the US have had a complicated relationship, bound for decades by Washington’s dependence on Islamabad to supply its troops in Afghanistan but plagued by accusations that Pakistan was playing a “double game.” Pakistan denies it.
The mistrust between the two countries has significantly grown since the Taliban overran Afghanistan in mid-August.
Pakistan wants ‘enduring relationship’ with US — army chief
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Pakistan wants ‘enduring relationship’ with US — army chief
- Statement comes amid deteriorating Islamabad-Washington ties over way forward in Afghanistan
- Top US official earlier this month said US didn’t see itself building “broad relationship” with Pakistan
Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military
- Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is a 43-member alliance that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE and other nations
- The Pakistani military statement comes after a meeting between IMCTC secretary-general and the chief of Pakistani defense forces in Rawalpindi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, including intelligence sharing and capacity building, to jointly combat “terrorism” and “extremism,” the Pakistani military said on Monday.
The IMCTC is a 43-member military alliance that was formed on Saudi Arabia’s initiative in Dec. 2015 to consolidate Muslim countries’ efforts in countering “terrorism.”
A 17-member IMCTC delegation is visiting Pakistan from Feb. 2-6 to conduct a training at National University of Sciences and Technology on “Re-integration and Rehabilitation of Extremist Elements,” according to the Pakistani military.
On Monday, IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi held a meeting with Chief of Pakistani Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss cooperation among IMCTC member states.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed, with particular emphasis on regional security dynamics and enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism and extremism through collaborative strategies, intelligence sharing, and capacity building among member states.”
The IMCTC features Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine, UAE, Bangladesh and other nations. In 2017, Pakistan’s former army chief Gen. (retd) Raheel Sharif was appointed as the IMCTC commander-in-chief.
During discussions with Major General Al-Moghedi, Field Marshal Munir appreciated the role of IMCTC in fostering stability and promoting coordinated counterterrorism initiatives across the Islamic world, according to the ISPR.
The IMCTC secretary-general acknowledged Pakistan’s significant contributions and sacrifices in the fight against militancy and lauded the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces.
“The meeting underscored the resolve of both sides to further strengthen institutional collaboration for peace, stability, and security in the region,” the ISPR added.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with most Muslim countries around the world, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council countries. In Sept. 2025, Pakistan signed a landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia according to which an act of aggression against one country will be treated as an act of aggression against both.
