CENTCOM Chief Praises Pakistan’s Role Against ISIS-K

The Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Kurilla, has commended Pakistan’s critical partnership in combating the transnational terrorist group ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), characterizing the nation as a pivotal ally in global counterterrorism efforts.

Speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, General Kurilla highlighted Pakistan’s robust intelligence cooperation with the United States, which has led to significant operational successes against ISIS-K.

He noted that Pakistan’s sustained counterterrorism campaign has severely weakened the group’s operational capabilities in the region.

General Kurilla detailed how ongoing Taliban operations in Afghanistan have forced ISIS-K fighters into the tribal borderlands between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is in these regions, he said, that Pakistani forces, bolstered by US intelligence, have captured multiple high-value operatives and disrupted planned attacks.

Among the successes cited was the arrest of Jafar, a central figure in the 2021 Abbey Gate suicide bombing in Kabul, which killed 13 US service members. General Kurilla revealed that Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, personally contacted him to confirm Jafar’s capture and readiness for extradition to the United States.

General Kurilla also outlined ISIS-K’s global threat profile, linking the group to high-casualty attacks such as the Crocus City Hall massacre in Moscow and the Kerman bombing in Iran. He added that further intelligence regarding ISIS-K plots targeting the U.S. would be shared in a classified setting.

Despite the persistent threat, Kurilla asserted that ISIS-K is currently at a low point, largely due to Pakistan’s ongoing military pressure. He acknowledged the heavy price Pakistan has paid, citing over 1,000 terrorist incidents since early 2024, resulting in the deaths of approximately 700 security personnel and 2,500 civilians.