US Reaffirms Support for Pakistan’s Right to Self-Defence Against Terrorism as UN Reviews Global Counterterrorism Strategy
Key Developments:
- The United States reaffirmed support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks amid renewed tensions with Afghanistan.
- The UN General Assembly adopted the ninth review of the Global Counterterrorism Strategy despite failing to achieve consensus.
- Pakistan called for reforms to the UN’s counterterrorism framework while highlighting the evolving nature of global terrorist threats.
WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters/Dawn News) — July 3, 2026: The United States has reiterated its support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, as cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue and the United Nations completes the latest review of its Global Counterterrorism Strategy.
According to a statement issued by the U.S. State Department, Washington acknowledged Pakistan’s security challenges, stating, “The Pakistani people have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists.” The department further said that the United States “supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.”
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The remarks come amid renewed security tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistan has maintained that its recent military actions targeted terrorist infrastructure following attacks on its security personnel, while the Afghan Taliban have rejected Islamabad’s allegations that militant groups operate from Afghan territory. Afghan authorities have, in turn, accused Pakistan of causing civilian casualties during cross-border operations. The United Nations has reported civilian casualties resulting from recent military activity and has urged all parties to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue.
The U.S. statement also follows earlier expressions of support made in February 2026, when Washington similarly recognized Pakistan’s right to respond to attacks while encouraging de-escalation and regional stability.
Meanwhile, at the United Nations General Assembly, member states adopted the ninth review of the Global Counterterrorism Strategy (GCTS) through a recorded vote after consensus could not be achieved. The resolution received support from 140 countries, including Pakistan, while the United States, Israel and Argentina voted against it. Japan initially abstained but later clarified that its delegation had intended to vote in favour.
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Explaining its position, Washington argued that the revised strategy had become excessively lengthy and lacked operational focus, describing the document as “bloated, outdated, and lacking focus.” U.S. officials said the text did not adequately address several American policy concerns regarding international counterterrorism cooperation.
Addressing the General Assembly, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said terrorism continues to evolve across national borders and requires coordinated international action. He described the Global Counterterrorism Strategy as “a living document” that must adapt to emerging threats and changing security realities.
Ambassador Iftikhar noted that Pakistan has remained on the frontline of global counterterrorism efforts for decades and has paid a significant human cost. He stated that more than 1,200 Pakistanis lost their lives in terrorist attacks over the past year, while also expressing disappointment that concerns raised by members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) were not fully reflected in the latest review.
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The Pakistani envoy further called for reforms to the UN’s counterterrorism architecture, greater transparency in international sanctions mechanisms, stronger regulation of online extremist content, and measures to prevent terrorist organizations from exploiting digital financial systems and virtual assets. He also emphasized that global efforts against terrorism should remain impartial, rules-based and free from political influence.
The developments underscore continuing international efforts to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation while highlighting differing approaches among major powers on how global strategies should be implemented. At the same time, regional tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain a significant security concern, with the United Nations and several international actors continuing to encourage dialogue and measures aimed at protecting civilians.
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