WASHINGTON: Terrorist groups based in the Pak-Afghan border region remain a security challenge to both countries and pose a threat to regional stability and peace, says Pentagon, the US defence department.

In a report — ‘Enhancing security and stability in Afghanistan’ — released this week, the Pentagon also emphasised the need for increased military collaboration between Pakistan and Afghanistan for defeating terrorism.

“The Afghanistan-Pakistan border region remains a sanctuary for various groups,” claims the report, adding that they include the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the militant Islamic State group (ISIL-Khorasan) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

The Pentagon identifies the AQIS as an Al Qaeda affiliate which recruits fighters from the larger South and Central Asian region, noting that it poses a direct threat to US interests in the area.

“The United States continues to be clear with Pakistan about steps it should take to improve the security environment and deny safe havens to terrorist and extremist groups,” the report said.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2016