Pakistan, Russia Review Afghan Terror Threat in Islamabad Talks

Pakistan and Russia have reviewed the terrorism threat emerging from Afghanistan during a high-level counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad, where both sides focused on risks to neighbouring states and the wider regional security environment. The discussion took place on Tuesday during the 12th meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group to Counter International Terrorism.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Ambassador Muhammad Khalid Khan Jamali, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Russian side was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky. The meeting underlined the growing importance both governments attach to coordinated security assessments at a time when militant activity in the region remains a shared concern.

According to the official account, the two delegations discussed the regional terrorist threat with particular attention to Afghanistan. Islamabad and Moscow reviewed how instability, militant movement and cross-border threats could affect countries in the neighbourhood, including Pakistan, Central Asian states and Russia’s wider security interests.

The Foreign Office said the two sides also examined the current state of bilateral cooperation on counterterrorism. Both delegations identified ways to deepen engagement at regional and international platforms, especially the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where Pakistan and Russia already participate in security-focused discussions.

The meeting is significant because counterterrorism cooperation has become a more prominent part of Pakistan-Russia relations in recent years. While the two countries historically had limited security engagement, shifting regional realities, Afghanistan’s uncertain security landscape and the need for multilateral coordination have pushed both sides toward more structured dialogue.

For Pakistan, terrorism emanating from Afghan territory remains a critical national security issue. Islamabad has repeatedly expressed concern that militant networks operating across the border can exploit weak control, porous terrain and political instability to plan attacks against Pakistani security forces, civilians and infrastructure.

Russia also has strategic reasons to track the security situation in Afghanistan closely. Moscow has long viewed extremism in and around Afghanistan as a potential threat to Central Asia and its own regional interests, making intelligence-sharing and diplomatic coordination with Pakistan an important part of broader threat management.

The use of forums such as the UN and SCO gives the dialogue an international dimension. These platforms can help member states exchange assessments, develop common positions and press for stronger action against groups that threaten regional peace, while also encouraging Afghanistan’s authorities to prevent their territory from being used for terrorism.

The Islamabad meeting may not immediately produce visible operational outcomes, but it signals that Pakistan and Russia are keeping counterterrorism cooperation active through formal channels. For Pakistan, sustained engagement with Moscow can strengthen diplomatic space, improve regional coordination and support its argument that terrorism from Afghanistan is not only a bilateral issue but a wider security challenge.

The next phase will depend on how both governments translate the working group’s discussions into practical coordination. Follow-up consultations, multilateral engagement and continued intelligence-backed assessments are expected to shape the direction of Pakistan-Russia cooperation on counterterrorism in the months ahead.