title:Pakistan-US Security Pact: Enhancing Ties Amid Rising Regional Threats
ISLAMABAD: In a pivotal diplomatic engagement that could reshape regionalstability, Pakistan and the United States have agreed to deepen theircollaboration on bilateral security and border management, amid escalatingterrorist threats along Pakistan’s western frontiers. The accord, reachedduring a high-level meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and USChargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker, promises enhanced support foranti-terrorism initiatives and modern equipment for border agencies. Thisdevelopment comes at a critical juncture, as Pakistan grapples with a 34percent surge in terrorist attacks in 2025, raising questions about thelong-term impact on South Asian security dynamics and whether this renewedpartnership will stem the tide of violence effectively.
The meeting, held in Islamabad, delved into comprehensive discussions onfortifying ties between the two nations, with a focus on mutual interestssuch as counterterrorism and narcotics control. Both sides committed tobolstering cooperation under the US Anti-terrorism Assistance Programme andthe Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Keyagenda items included the establishment of a crime center and an academywithin Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, backed by US expertise.Training programs for officers from the FIA, Federal Constabulary, andNational Cyber Crime Investigation Agency were also reviewed, signaling astructured approach to capacity building that could address gaps inPakistan’s law enforcement framework.id=”a2f790″cardtype=”citationcard” type=”renderinlinecitation”>id”>0 Historical data reveals that US security aid to Pakistanfrom 2002 to 2023 totaled over $8 billion, underscoring the longstandingnature of such collaborations despite periodic strains.
Pakistan’s security landscape in 2025 painted a grim picture, with 699terrorist incidents recorded nationwide, marking a 21 percent increase infatalities to 1,034 lives lost. The burden fell heavily on KhyberPakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, accounting for over 95 percent of attacks,where groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan intensified operationsfrom Afghan sanctuaries.id=”fb2fe1″cardtype=”citationcard” type=”renderinlinecitation”>id”>20 This resurgence has strained border management, withcross-border infiltrations exacerbating internal instability. Theagreement’s emphasis on equipping border security agencies and coastalguards with advanced US technology aims to mitigate these vulnerabilities,potentially reducing smuggling and militant movements that have plagued theregion for decades. Analysts suggest this could lead to a 15-20 percentdrop in border-related incidents if implemented robustly, drawing from pastUS-supported initiatives.
Delving deeper into the historical context, US-Pakistan military relationsdate back to 1947, evolving through Cold War alliances where Pakistanserved as a key partner against Soviet influence. From 2001 to 2016,Pakistan received approximately $11 billion in economic aid and $14.6billion in military reimbursements, facilitating operations againstal-Qaida and other threats.id=”4014dc”cardtype=”citationcard” type=”renderinlinecitation”>id”>13 However, relations cooled in the 2010s due to concerns overmilitant support, leading to aid suspensions. The current pact revives thiscooperation at a time when Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts yielded1,313 militant deaths in 2025, yet civilian and security personnelcasualties rose to over 1,200, highlighting the need for enhancedintelligence sharing and joint operations to prevent a spillover intobroader regional conflicts.
The discussions also highlighted the role of modern technology in combatingcyber threats and financial crimes linked to terrorism. With the NationalCyber Crime Investigation Agency cracking down on illegal call centers,US-provided advanced software is expected to curb terror financing, whichreportedly funneled millions into militant networks last year. MinisterNaqvi emphasized that activating the FIA’s counterterrorism wing with USaid would create Pakistan’s first federal anti-terrorist unit with seamlessprovincial coordination, potentially streamlining responses to threats thathave evolved from conventional attacks to sophisticated digitaloperations.id=”49f7fd” cardtype=”citationcard”type=”renderinlinecitation”>id”>30 This integration could save countless lives, given thatsuicide bombings and targeted assaults on security installations spiked by53 percent in 2025.
Border management remains a cornerstone of the agreement, addressingPakistan’s porous frontiers with Afghanistan, where over 2,500 kilometersof terrain facilitate illicit crossings. Statistics from 2025 indicate1,762 incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, with districts like Bannu andNorth Waziristan as hotspots.id=”06a6ed”cardtype=”citationcard” type=”renderinlinecitation”>id”>23 US-supplied equipment for coastal guards and border agenciescould modernize surveillance, reducing infiltration rates that contributedto a 74 percent surge in combat-related deaths last year. Thiscollaboration echoes past successes, such as the capture of over 700al-Qaida operatives since 2001, and aims to foster regional stability bycountering groups like the Islamic State Khorasan Province, which expandedoperations across borders.
Beyond immediate security gains, the pact signals a shift towardssustainable bilateral relations, moving beyond transactional aid. US Chargéd’Affaires Baker appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in enhancing ties, notingongoing multi-level collaborations between agencies.id=”d2efaf” cardtype=”citationcard” type=”renderinlinecitation”>id”>30 With Pakistan’s economy reliant on stable borders fortrade—exports to the US accounting for 21 percent of totals—this agreementcould bolster economic resilience amid terrorism’s toll. Experts predictthat effective implementation might lower terrorism indices, as seen in theGlobal Terrorism Index 2025, where Pakistan ranked high due to 1,709incidents and nearly 4,000 fatalities, urging a proactive stance to preventescalation into 2026.
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The agreement’s broader implications extend to counter-narcotics, where theBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs will play apivotal role. Pakistan’s opium trade routes, intertwined with terroristfinancing, saw seizures worth billions in 2025, yet production in adjacentregions persists. US support in training and equipment could disrupt thesenetworks, potentially halving drug-related funding for militants. As bothnations reaffirm commitment to shared goals, this partnership not onlyaddresses current threats but also lays groundwork for enduring peace,questioning if it will finally break the cycle of volatility that hasdefined US-Pakistan relations for over seven decades.
In conclusion, while the accord offers hope amid Pakistan’s deadliest yearin a decade—with 3,413 total deaths from violence—the true test lies inexecution. Historical precedents show that aid, like the $1.5 billion inForeign Military Financing from 2005-2009, yielded mixedresults.id=”27cd37″ cardtype=”citationcard”type=”renderinlinecitation”>id”>16 Stakeholders must navigate geopolitical tensions, includingPakistan’s ties with China, to ensure this collaboration translates intotangible security improvements, fostering a safer environment for citizensand stabilizing the volatile South Asian theater.
Source:https://www.dawn.com/news/1967488/pakistan-us-agree-to-enhance-collaboration-in-security-border-management
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