The top US military commander said the United States is concerned about the threat posed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) to the South Asian country’s security amid an increase in violence by the banned group in the country. “We value our bilateral relationship and welcome opportunities to expand our cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as counterterrorism and border security,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander General Michael E Kurilla said, according to The Express Tribune.
General Kurilla made these remarks in response to a question about the possibility of the US extending support to Pakistan in dealing with the terrorist threat. The comments come on the back of the CENTCOM commander’s visit to Pakistan this month, where he met with senior military leaders and observed conditions and operations along the Pakistan-Afghan border near the Khyber Pass.
During his visit, the leaders discussed security cooperation, security along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the threat posed by terrorist groups in the region, ongoing operations and opportunities to increase cooperation between CENTCOM and the Pakistani military. During the visit, General Kurilla traveled to Peshawar to visit the XI Headquarters. choir. The XI Corps is a unit of the Pakistan Army assigned to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, with security responsibility for approximately half of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
According to a CENTCOM press release, General Kurilla and leaders of the XI. corps traveled by helicopter to visit the site of Big Ben overlooking the Khyber Pass. There, they monitored border security and discussed the cross-border threat of terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan. The statement added that the visit provided General Kuril with valuable insight into many aspects of the Pakistan Armed Forces, the threats Pakistan faces and most importantly, an opportunity to strengthen military-to-military relations.
“Pakistan and the US have longstanding defense ties dating back 75 years,” Kurilla said. “We remain committed to countering shared threats to regional security. CENTCOM views the US-Pakistan relationship on its own bilateral merits and potential to enhance regional stability. We are committed to strengthening military-to-military relations.” It was General Kurilla’s second visit to Pakistan in the last four months.
