Bilateral counterterrorism cooperation revived in 2025, starting with Pakistan's capture and handover of an ISIS-K suspect in the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing. Formal dialogue rounds in Islamabad (August 2025) and Washington (August 2026) named ISIS-K, al-Qaeda, the TTP and the BLA as shared targets.
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The fourth round of the dialogue in Washington discussed border security and disrupting terrorist facilitation networks
President Trump told Congress that a suspect in the Abbey Gate bombing, captured in Pakistan, was being brought to the United States, and thanked Pakistan for its help
In the August 2025 joint statement, the United States 'applauded Pakistan's continued successes to contain terrorist entities that pose a threat to the peace and security of the region and the world'.
Quoted or summarised from the linked public statements only.
Recent developments
Counterterrorism has historically been the core of the relationship, and its revival underpins wider re-engagement. Whether Washington treats the TTP and BLA as shared priorities, not just ISIS-K, is a central Pakistani concern.
