In a strong endorsement of Pakistan’s role in the global war on terror, United States Central Command (Centcom) Chief General Michael Kurilla has hailed Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner in counter-terrorism efforts”, citing its successful operations against Daesh-Khorasan and its ongoing fight against terrorism in the region.

Speaking during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, General Kurilla praised Islamabad’s determined actions against terrorist networks, particularly Daesh-Khorasan. “Through a phenomenal partnership, Pakistan has gone after Daesh-Khorasan, killing dozens of them,” he stated, adding that Pakistani forces, with the help of US-provided intelligence, had captured at least five high-value ISIS-Khorasan operatives.

The phenomenal partner in counter-terrorism label wasn’t just rhetorical. Kurilla detailed how Pakistan had apprehended Mohammad Sharifullah — a key Daesh figure involved in the devastating 2021 Abbey Gate bombing outside Kabul airport, which claimed the lives of 170 Afghans and 13 US troops. Sharifullah allegedly helped plan the attack by scouting the route used by the suicide bomber. After the arrest, Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir reportedly called General Kurilla and offered to extradite the militant to the United States.

This testimony comes weeks after Islamabad and Washington reaffirmed their commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation during a high-level dialogue. Both countries pledged to continue working together to tackle regional threats, including those posed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh-Khorasan.

Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. General Kurilla highlighted that over 1,000 terrorist incidents had been reported in Pakistan’s western region in 2024 alone. Despite these challenges, he emphasized that Pakistan remains actively engaged in counter-terrorism operations and is achieving measurable results.

“We’re seeing Pakistan — with limited intelligence that we provided them — go after them using their means to do that, and we’re seeing an effect on Daesh Khorasan,” he said.

Kurilla also stressed the importance of maintaining balanced ties with both Pakistan and India. “It’s not a binary choice,” he added. “We should look at the relationship with Pakistan for the positives that it brings.”