US-Pakistan ties may impact stability in Afghanistan

Pakistan-US counterterrorism cooperation could extend to Afghanistan, impacting stability of the Taliban regime in the country as well as of several neighbouring nations, experts said, citing lukewarm ties between the Pakistan Army and the Afghan government.

India will be closely watching developments in Afghanistan, they said, especially since the Taliban regime has warmed up to India over the past year and has sought assistance in development projects and the health sector.

The Taliban regime condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, taking the Pakistan government as well as army by surprise, according to the experts. Subsequently, Pakistan launched an effort to improve ties with Afghanistan, they said.

This week, the United States praised Pakistan's role in curbing terrorist groups both regionally and globally. On Tuesday, both countries issued a joint statement after the Pakistan-US Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Islamabad where they reaffirmed their "commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations".

Pakistan and the US have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation to tackle groups including the Balochistan Liberation Army and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. The US applauded Pakistan's "continued successes in containing terrorist entities that pose a threat to the peace and security of the region and the world".