US General Kurilla highlights Pakistan’s role in global terror war

(Web Desk): Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Erik Kurilla, has termed Pakistan a key partner in the war against terrorism during a statement to the US Senate Armed Services Committee.

Speaking before the committee, General Kurilla stated that ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) is currently among the most active global terrorist organizations.

He noted that Pakistan has emerged as an exceptional counterterrorism partner, and through close intelligence cooperation with Pakistan, several ISIS-K terrorists have been killed or captured — including at least five of the group’s most wanted leaders.

General Kurilla said that Pakistani authorities have enabled the US to achieve several key counterterrorism successes through intelligence sharing. This includes the arrest and handover of Jaafar, the mastermind behind the Abbey Gate bombing. He added that Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, personally reached out to inform the US immediately after the arrest.

He further stated that Pakistan continues to act against ISIS-K through effective intelligence cooperation, as the group remains active along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. Pakistan’s participation, he emphasized, is proving to be crucial and impactful in the global counterterrorism landscape.

It is worth noting that in March 2025, Pakistan captured an ISIS commander based on intelligence provided by the US CIA.

According to security sources, Pakistan arrested Sharifullah, also known as Jaafar, an Afghan national and ISIS commander, from the Pak-Afghan border. He was the mastermind behind the Kabul airport attack and was taken into custody during a special operation. Sharifullah was considered a high-value target by US intelligence for his role in the August 26, 2021 bombing.