The United States views Pakistan as a strong partner in counterterrorism efforts but not a formal ally under any treaty obligations, clarified senior White House official John Kirby.
Speaking at a Washington briefing, National Security Communications Advisor Kirby emphasized the nuanced nature of US-Pakistan relations. He highlighted the absence of a formal defense pact while acknowledging the deep history of collaboration between the two nations.
“Pakistan was never a technical ally of the United States. There was no treaty of alliance with Pakistan,” Kirby stated in response to a question. Despite this, he noted Pakistan’s pivotal role in combating terrorism, particularly along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
“For many years, we partnered with Pakistan to address the terrorist threat along that spine between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Kirby explained.
In recent statements, the US has reiterated its commitment to combating terrorism in the region. In August, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel reaffirmed efforts to prevent groups like the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from using Afghanistan as a base for cross-border attacks.
In December, a US State Department report highlighted Pakistan’s significant progress in curbing terrorist financing and addressing regional extremist networks.
In a recent meeting, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and outgoing US Ambassador Donald Blome discussed strategies to address global security challenges, including terrorism.
