During a congressional hearing, US General Michael Kurilla praised Pakistan as a strong counterterrorism ally, highlighting its efforts against ISIS-Khorasan. His remarks come amid Bharat’s diplomatic push to isolate Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam attack in April.

Kurilla emphasized that the US should maintain ties with both Bharat and Pakistan rather than view South Asia relations as a zero-sum game. While Bharat’s government continues to hold Pakistan accountable for cross-border terrorism, Kurilla acknowledged Islamabad’s military operations along the Afghan border, including capturing ISIS-K leaders.

Bharat responded to the Pahalgam attack with precision strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, concluding military actions after an agreement between both nations. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reinforced Bharat’s tough stance against terrorism, warning that future attacks would be met with decisive retaliation.

Meanwhile, Kurilla shared that Pakistan has suffered heavily from terrorism, with over 1,000 attacks since 2024, leading to thousands of casualties. He also mentioned Pakistan’s willingness to extradite a key suspect in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.

The US claims a role in facilitating peace between Bharat and Pakistan, but Bharat has denied any external involvement. Despite American praise for Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts, Bharat continues to push its global campaign exposing Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism, reinforcing its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy.