ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the European Union have renewed their commitment to jointly fight against terrorism by strengthening cooperation on the prevention and countering of violent extremism, offline and online radicalisation, and combatting terrorism financing.
The pledge was made in a joint statement issued by both sides following the Pakistan-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue, which took place on April 27, 2023, in Brussels.
During the dialogue, the two sides discussed the challenges posed by terrorism and exchanged views on regional and global security challenges, including the situation in Afghanistan.
They strongly denounced terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed their determination to work together to combat this menace by increasing cooperation.
The dialogue also provided an opportunity to explore concrete ways of assisting Pakistan in addressing the evolving threats of terrorism.
The delegations were led by Managing Director Common Security and Defence Policy at the European External Action Service, Benedikta Von Seherr-Thoss, and Director General for Counter-Terrorism at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Abdul Hameed.
The joint statement further stated that the two sides also discussed counter-terrorism cooperation in multilateral fora such as the United Nations and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, which the EU co-chairs.
Engagement between Pakistan and EU over security matters
The Pakistan-European Union (EU) Counter Terrorism Dialogue was held as part of a wider engagement on security matters in the framework of the 2019 Strategic Engagement Plan.
The dialogue offered an opportunity to engage in crucial discussions on counter-terrorism cooperation, and the two sides agreed to continue to work together to combat terrorism and to promote peace and stability in the region.
The renewed commitment of Pakistan and the European Union to jointly fight against terrorism is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and security of their citizens.
By strengthening cooperation on the prevention and countering of violent extremism, offline and online radicalisation, and combatting terrorism financing, the two sides have taken a proactive stance in addressing the growing challenges posed by the evolving threats of terrorism.
