A senior White House official, John Kirby, has clarified that Pakistan has never been a formal ally of the United States bound by a defense treaty. Despite this, the two countries have a long history of collaboration, particularly in counterterrorism efforts. During a briefing, Kirby emphasized that while the US has partnered with Pakistan in tackling terrorism, there has been no treaty-based alliance between the nations.
“Pakistan was never a technical ally of the United States. I mean, there was no treaty of alliance with Pakistan,” Kirby stated, addressing questions about the nature of the relationship.
Shared Security Interests Despite Divergent Strategies
Although the US has never had a formal defense pact with Pakistan, the countries have worked together extensively on security issues, especially in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, which has been a hotspot for terrorism. Kirby highlighted that both nations have focused on combating terrorist threats in the region.
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“Certainly, over many years, we partnered with Pakistan as appropriate to deal with the terrorist threat that still exists on that spine between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said. This cooperation has continued even as the two countries maintain different strategic priorities.
Ongoing Commitment to Counterterrorism Efforts
Kirby acknowledged the human cost of terrorism in Pakistan, where citizens continue to suffer from cross-border violence. The US remains committed to supporting Pakistan in its fight against terrorism, particularly with groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“We recognise that Pakistan still suffers from terrorist violence coming from across the border,” said Kirby. He reiterated that the US will continue to work with Pakistan to address common threats, a commitment that has not wavered.
This commitment is further reflected in statements from the US State Department. In 2024, the US reaffirmed its stance on preventing groups like TTP from using Afghanistan as a base to launch attacks. Additionally, a US State Department report highlighted Pakistan’s progress in countering terrorist financing and addressing regional extremist networks.
In the latest discussions between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and US Ambassador Donald Blome, both parties focused on strategies for combating global challenges like terrorism. Despite the lack of a formal defense treaty, these ongoing engagements underscore the continued cooperation between the two nations in addressing shared security challenges.
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