Brussels: Pakistan and the European Union held their ninth Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Brussels, focusing on enhancing cooperation in combating terrorism. The discussions were led by Maciej Stadejek, Director for Security and Defence Policy at the European External Action Service, and Abdul Hameed, Director General for Counter Terrorism at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Radio Pakistan, the dialogue was part of the broader 2019 Strategic Engagement Plan between the EU and Pakistan, emphasizing security matters. Both delegations reiterated their commitment to fighting terrorism and condemned it in all its forms. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on regional and global challenges, particularly the security situations in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

The discussions highlighted the importance of international cooperation, particularly within multilateral frameworks like the United Nations and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, which the EU has co-chaired since 2022. The dialogue also explored areas for exchanging best practices and concrete cooperation on issues such as preventing violent extremism, controlling the movement of foreign fighters, countering both offline and online radicalization, and combating terrorism financing.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both parties to work together on these pressing issues, acknowledging the growing challenges posed by terrorism and the necessity of a united approach to effectively address them.