ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia have agreed to strengthen collaborative efforts to effectively combat terrorism at a meeting, the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.

The 10th meeting of the Pakistan-Russia joint working group on combating international terrorism and other challenges to security, held here on Friday, was presided over by Pakistani caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Vershinin, the statement added.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed global and regional terrorist threats, with a particular focus on the situations in Afghanistan, Central and South Asia, and North Africa, the statement said.

Both sides outlined their respective national strategies and measures in combating terrorism, sharing experiences and best practices, and highlighting the importance of national efforts in the broader fight against terrorism.

The discussions also covered enhancing cooperation in multilateral forums, such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the two sides resolved to work together in combating the financing of terrorism and in other key areas of counter-terrorism.

The officials also addressed various forms of radicalization, the spread of terrorist ideologies, and the misuse of information and communication technologies for terrorist purposes, and agreed on the need for comprehensive strategies to counter these challenges.

4 terrorists killed in military operation in NW Pakistan

Pakistani military claimed on Saturday night to have killed four terrorists in an operation in the country’s northwest tribal district of North Waziristan, said the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR).

The ISPR, the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement that the security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation on Saturday, leading to an exchange of fire between the terrorists and security personnel in the Khaisoor area of North Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The slain terrorists included a high-value target named Ibrahim alias Musa, who was highly wanted by the Pakistani law enforcement agencies, said the military.

“Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from the killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities,” said the ISPR.

The military said that the security forces have started a clearance operation in the surrounding ranges, vowing to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.