Pakistan, Russia review regional terror threat at Islamabad meeting

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia held a fresh round of counterterrorism consultations in Islamabad on Tuesday, where officials from both countries reviewed the wider regional security situation with a particular focus on militant threats linked to Afghanistan.

The discussion took place during the 12th meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group to Counter International Terrorism, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson. The statement said the two sides examined the regional terrorist threat and discussed the risk such activity posed to neighbouring countries as well as broader regional stability.

Pakistan’s delegation was led by Ambassador Muhammad Khalid Khan Jamali, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Russian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmitry Lyubinsky headed the Russian side, the Foreign Office spokesperson said.

The Foreign Office statement described the meeting as part of the two countries’ engagement on countering international terrorism. It said the talks specifically addressed terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and its implications for surrounding states and the region at large.