WASHINGTON: General Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), has hailed Pakistan as a critical partner in the global fight against terrorism during a briefing to the U.S.
Senate Armed Services Committee. Speaking before the committee, General Kurilla emphasized that ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) remains one of the most active terrorist organizations worldwide.
He stated that Pakistan has emerged as an exceptional counterterrorism partner, highlighting that close intelligence cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan has led to the elimination and capture of multiple ISIS-K militants.
These include at least five top-level commanders. General Kurilla specifically credited Pakistan for its role in the capture and extradition of Jafar, the mastermind behind the deadly Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport. He noted that Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, personally informed U.S. officials of the successful operation.
Kurilla further praised Pakistan for its ongoing, effective intelligence-sharing efforts that continue to disrupt ISIS-K activities, particularly along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
He stressed that Pakistan’s role is pivotal and increasingly valuable in the broader context of global counterterrorism.
It is worth noting that in March 2025, acting on U.S. CIA-provided intelligence, Pakistani security forces apprehended a senior ISIS commander named Sharifullah (alias Jafar), the alleged mastermind behind the August 26, 2021 Kabul airport attack.
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He was captured near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border during a special operation and was classified as a high-value target by U.S. intelligence agencies.
