ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Japan held counterterrorism consultations in Tokyo on Wednesday, focusing on technology use and capacity-building initiatives, according to a statement by the foreign office in Islamabad.
Pakistan and Japan share a multifaceted relationship, with their partnership spanning various sectors, including political collaboration, economic exchange and development assistance.
Their counterterrorism cooperation is primarily centered on intelligence-sharing, capacity-building and financial measures rather than direct military collaboration.
“The 4th Round of Pakistan-Japan Counter-Terrorism Consultations was convened in Tokyo on 26 February 2025,” the foreign office said. “During the discussion, the two sides assessed evolving terrorist threats at national and regional level and reiterated their resolve to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations.”
“Both sides explored areas for greater bilateral cooperation, including capacity-building initiatives and solutions based on emerging technologies,” it added.
During the discussions, the Pakistani side briefed its counterparts on recent policy measures and enforcement actions, highlighting progress in countering terrorism financing, dismantling militant networks and enhancing border security.
Japan has not faced any major threat from militant groups in recent years, but its citizens have been targeted abroad, including in Pakistan. In April last year, five Japanese autoworkers narrowly survived when their van was targeted by a suicide bomber in Karachi.
Despite such security concerns, trade and investment remain a cornerstone of Pakistan-Japan relations. Additionally, Japan continues to be a significant development partner, providing substantial loans, grants and technical assistance to support Pakistan’s infrastructure and social projects.
Pakistan and Japan hold counterterrorism consultations in Tokyo
https://arab.news/c2dqt
Pakistan and Japan hold counterterrorism consultations in Tokyo
- The two sides discuss capacity-building initiatives and technology-based security solutions
- Japan is also Pakistan’s development partner, providing loans, grants and technical assistance
Pakistan warns social media firms of Brazil-style action over failure to curb terror content
- Government says TikTok, Telegram showed highest cooperation while X remained least responsive
- Pakistan authorities demand platforms share IP data, deploy AI filters and comply with local laws
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday issued a final warning to major social media platforms, urging them to comply with local laws and proactively curb militant content or face action similar to measures taken by Brazil against X, where the platform was briefly banned last year.
Briefing foreign media in Islamabad, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Minister of State for Law and Justice Aqeel Malik said the government had formally raised concerns with platforms including X, Meta, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok and Telegram. The officials said Pakistan expected these companies to strengthen moderation systems, improve cooperation with law enforcement and adopt tools capable of detecting extremist activity before it spreads.
“This is our last warning. These companies must comply with Pakistani laws, establish offices in Pakistan, and use AI and algorithmic tools to identify terror-linked accounts,” Chaudhry told reporters.
He said authorities had detected dozens of accounts linked to regional militant networks operating across multiple platforms.
“These accounts are linked to organizations already proscribed by the United States and the United Nations,” he noted, underscoring what officials described as cross-border online activity contributing to radicalization and security threats.
The warning comes as Pakistan cites Brazil’s precedent. In June last year, Brazil’s Supreme Court blocked access to X after the platform refused to ban accounts accused of spreading misinformation during the 2022 presidential election. Access was restored in October after X paid a $5.1 million fine and appointed a local representative, as required under Brazilian law.
Chaudhry said Pakistan had raised its concerns repeatedly, including a detailed briefing to platforms on July 24 this year, but responses “remained insufficient,” describing X as the least cooperative platform, while TikTok and Telegram showed the highest compliance.
Officials said Islamabad has also asked platforms to share IP addresses of accounts linked with militancy and to block the creation of mirror accounts through advanced filters.
Malik said the issue had been taken up not only with companies but also with governments where these platforms are headquartered.
“Pakistan is a frontline state against terrorism and continues to pay the price for global terrorism. The world must cooperate with Pakistan in this war,” he added, warning that failure to comply could force the government to take action against non-cooperative platforms.
