Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military

IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi in a meeting with Chief of Pakistani Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi on February 2, 2026. (ISPR)
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Updated 02 February 2026
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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.

 


Suicide bomber among five militants killed in counterterror operation in southwest Pakistan— military 

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Suicide bomber among five militants killed in counterterror operation in southwest Pakistan— military 

  • Security forces gunned down “Indian-sponsored” Pakistani Taliban militants in Pishin district on Sunday, says military 
  • Says Pakistani forces recovered weapons, explosives from slain militants who were involved in “terrorist activities“

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces this week killed five militants, including a suicide bomber, during an intelligence-based operation in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province, the military’s media wing said on Monday. 

The operation took place in Balochistan’s Pishin district on Sunday after security forces received reports of the presence of “Fitna Al Khwarij,” a term the military uses to describe the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group. Pakistani forces engaged the militants with multiple weapons, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) added, as both sides traded fire. 

“After an intense fire exchange, suicide bomber kharji cowardly blew himself up and four other Indian-sponsored khwarij were hunted down and sent to hell,” the military’s media wing said. 

Pakistani forces recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives from the slain militants, the military said, adding that they were involved in numerous “terrorist activities” in the area. 

The military said it was carrying out sanitization operations to hunt any other militants in the area. It vowed to continue the government’s counterterrorism campaign to wipe out “foreign sponsored and supported terrorism” from Pakistan. 

The TTP has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against civilians and law enforcement agencies in Pakistan since 2007 in its bid to impose its own brand of Islamic law in the country.

Pakistan says TTP, Daesh and ethnic Baloch separatist outfits enjoy sanctuary in Afghanistan from where they launch attacks against its territory. Afghanistan denies the allegations and calls on Islamabad to address its security challenges without involving Kabul.

Pakistan carried out intelligence-based strikes on alleged militant camps and hideouts in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost provinces on Saturday, a security official said. The official said more than 80 militants were killed in the attacks, a claim denied by the Afghan Taliban who said Islamabad killed and wounded dozens of civilians in the strikes.

The strikes have increased tensions between the neighbors, with Afghanistan warning it will retaliate at a “suitable time.”

Islamabad also accuses India of arming and funding militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, a charge New Delhi rejects.