The arrest and extradition of the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) terrorist behind August 26, 2021, deadly attacks on US marines emphasize the importance of the American Pakistan terrorist fighting partnership and could serve as a “building block” to restore bilateral ties.

In an interview with Voa Deewa Services, Lisa Curtis, senior mate and director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for A New American Security (CNA), described the development as an important step.

“I think this could be a kind of building block to reset the US-Pakistan relationship-a very important step-and-obvious president [Donald] Trump mentioned it in his statement to the joint session at the US Congress, ”she noted.

Curtis referred to the capture of Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar,” of Pakistani agencies accused of having Mastermindet Abbey Gate bombing in Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, killing 13 US officials and about 170 Afghans.

President Trump broke the news of Sharifullah’s catch Tuesday night in a speech to Congress at Capitol Hill. “Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just arrested the supreme terrorist responsible for this cruelty,” Trump said.

The US president paid tribute to Pakistan for helping with Sharifullah’s arrest. “And I especially want to thank Pakistan’s government for helping to arrest this monster,” the US president said.

In a memories of the strained relations between the United States and Pakistan under President Joe Biden, Lisa Curtis rejected the demands of Jon Finer-which served as the bite’s most important deputy National Security Advisor-at Pakistan’s weapons program was aimed at the United States. Instead, she pointed out that Pakistan’s strategic focus remained to counteract India because of her history of three wars.

“Pakistan’s strategic programs are driven by the desire to start India’s programs … With India it has three wars, so this is the opportunity to reset the relationship between Trump administration and Pakistan.”

Curtis, who served in Donald Trump’s first administration as senior director of South and Central Asia in the National Security Council, suggested that US foreign policy recognize the new geopolitical landscape.

She emphasized that “We are in a new era”. Without US troops in Afghanistan, the primary concern was now strategic competition with China, as it is not in Washington’s interest in Islamabad to become completely dependent on Beijing.

“The biggest question is strategic competition with China, and it is not in the US interests of Pakistan to completely dependent on China. We want Pakistan to have opportunities, alternatives,” she emphasized.

While reinstatement of military assistance on levels seen after 9/11 was unlikely, countries could use potential areas of cooperation, especially in the IT sector, critical minerals and other mutual financial interests.

Senior fellow at DC-Think Tank expected that although a formal alliance or strategic partnership may not be on the table, it remains to promote a heartfelt relationship with Pakistan in key areas with mutual advantage an option. “There are options, they [the US and Pakistan] Can collaborate when there is mutual interest in the IT sector, critical minerals. “

With regard to Pakistan’s long -standing ties with China, she noticed that Islamabad was looking for balanced connections and did not want to be completely dependent on Beijing.

“The [Islamabad] Prefer to have a good relationship with the United States, so again it is in the favor of the United States, so it is certainly not in the US interest to see Pakistan you know fully dependent on China, “Curtis said.

She added that the United States did not want to see a deterioration of Peking’s historical ties with Islamabad or even an elaboration of the relationship. “All I say is that the United States do not want to see China’s relations with Pakistan worsen or elaborated, not so elaborated where China finds a military outpost in Pakistan,” she added.