Pakistan and Russia have agreed to deepen counterterrorism cooperation amid continuing concerns over militant threats emanating from Afghanistan, underlining growing alignment between the two countries on regional security.
The agreement emerged during the 12th round of the Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group on Countering International Terrorism, held in Islamabad on 23 June.
The talks were led by Pakistan's Additional Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Khalid Jamali, and Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Dmitry Lyubinsky. According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, discussions focused on terrorist threats originating from Afghanistan and their implications for regional stability.
Pakistan called for what it described as immediate and verifiable action by the Afghan authorities against militant groups operating from Afghan territory. Islamabad reiterated its position that Afghan soil should not be used to plan or launch attacks against any country.
The message reflects Pakistan's longstanding concerns over the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021.
The meeting is notable because it comes as Russia continues to expand its engagement with the Taliban government.
Moscow became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban administration in 2025. In May this year, Russia and Afghanistan signed a military-technical cooperation agreement aimed at supporting the repair and maintenance of Russian-made military equipment.
Yet Russia continues to publicly warn about security threats linked to Afghanistan. Russian officials have repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which they say is recruiting across Central Asia and among migrant communities within Russia.
This has created an unusual dynamic. While Pakistan and Russia approach the Taliban differently, both increasingly share concerns about the potential spillover of instability from Afghanistan.
The two sides also reviewed emerging trends in terrorism, including new methods of recruitment and financing used by militant organisations. Officials discussed the need for closer coordination to address evolving threats and exchanged views on strengthening cooperation through regional and international forums.
Particular emphasis was placed on cooperation through the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), where both countries see opportunities for broader coordination on counterterrorism and regional security.
The discussions reflect a wider shift in Pakistan-Russia relations. Once defined largely by geopolitical rivalry, the relationship has gradually expanded over the past decade to include defence, energy and security cooperation.
The next round of the Joint Working Group will be held in Moscow next year.
For both Islamabad and Moscow, the challenge remains the same: how to engage Afghanistan's rulers while preventing militant groups from exploiting Afghan territory to threaten regional security.
Pakistan is pushing for urgent global action and greater climate funding as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends COP31 in Türkiye, warning th...
Armenia has lost its voting rights and the ability to nominate officials for certain posts within the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organi...
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing dis...
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their first formal talks in nine months. They did so with no agreement on what a ceasefire would be tied to or who gets to keep the land currently under Russian control.
At least 17 people have been reported killed in an explosion at a steel plant in western Türkiye, after a crane collapsed during maintenance work. The disaster has prompted a criminal investigation into what went wrong at the industrial facility.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Washington believes the Russian President is prepared to reach a peace agreement under the right conditions, as U.S., Russian and Ukrainian delegations began trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 10 November.
Armenia could lose its voting rights within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on 11 November after failing to pay membership fees for more than two years, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 11 November. Today, we cover Russia-Ukraine peace talks, political tensions in Washington, strikes in Spain, espionage allegations involving Nvidia's CEO, and climate negotiations at COP31 in Türkiye.
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing disruption to factories, ports, shops and public transport just weeks before a snap general election.
Two days of U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi have ended with an agreement on a major prisoner exchange, but key disputes over security and territory remain unresolved.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning at this year's COP31 summit, saying the climate crisis iss advancing faster than governments' efforts to contain it.
Iran has unveiled a new underground missile and drone base, warning that it will respond forcefully to any attack, as tensions persist with the U.S. and oil tankers continue to be struck by naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Hundreds of schools in Italy have been evacuated following emailed bomb threats, as similar messages spread to Scotland and Ireland. Police say the threats are not credible.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment