White House official John Kirby clarified on Wednesday that Pakistan has never been a tactical ally of the United States (US).

“Pakistan was never a technical ally of the United States. There was no formal treaty of alliance with Pakistan,” Kirby stated during a press briefing in Washington. He was responding to a question regarding the Biden administration’s actions in response to Islamabad’s concerns about increasing cross-border terrorism. However, he acknowledged that the US and Pakistan have collaborated extensively in the fight against terrorism.

“For many years, particularly in the past couple of decades, we have partnered with Pakistan, as needed, to address terrorist threats,” he explained, adding, “… those threats still persist along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.”

Kirby also highlighted that US authorities are aware of the toll terrorist violence continues to take on the Pakistani people, particularly from cross-border attacks.

He affirmed that the Biden administration remains committed to working with Pakistan to confront shared challenges and threats. “That commitment has not changed, and it will not change,” he emphasized.

In August 2024, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel reaffirmed the US’s dedication to preventing groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from using Afghanistan as a base for launching attacks against Pakistan and other neighboring countries.

The following month, spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated the US’s resolve to support Pakistan, stating that America stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.

In December, Miller once again emphasized the US’s steadfast support for Pakistan in combating terrorism and extremism. “We continue to stand with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and violent extremism,” he stated during a weekly media briefing in Washington.