High -ranking officials from Pakistan and Russia on Tuesday agreed to improve their cooperation on the fight against terrorism, especially in Afghanistan and the wider region, as both nations face growing security threats from armed militant groups, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The meeting, held in Moscow as part of the 11th session in Pakistan-Russia’s Joint Working Group to address international terrorism, participated by key officials from both sides.

Pakistan’s delegation, led by special secretary (the United Nations) Nabeel Munir, and the side of Russia, led by Deputy Minister of Deputy Sergey Vershinin, focused on the evolving nature of terrorism in the region. Both delegations discussed strategies to combat terrorism’s increasingly transnational nature.

Pakistan has long expressed concern about rising cross-border attacks, especially from the forbidden Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as it claims originating from Afghanistan. Kabul has denied these accusations.

Similarly, Russia struggles to fight with the threat of Daesh militants, highlighted by the deadly 22 March 2024, attacks on Moscow Crocus City Hall, who left 140 died and many more wounded.

The lectures emphasized the need for adaptive and collaborative approaches to counter these developing threats. Discussions also emphasized the importance of collective action to ensure both regional and global security.

The working group, which provides a platform for sharing experiences and strategies in the fight against terrorism, concluded that both sides confirmed their obligation to strengthen ties. The next meeting of the working group will be scheduled for 2026.

The group’s 2023, held on November 16, focused on national strategies for combating terrorism and marking a continuation of the growing cooperation between Pakistan and Russia to tackle joint security challenges.