Pakistan, May 18 -- The US Central Command has termed Pakistan a "critical counter-terrorism partner" that is "central" to the fight against the militant Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) in South Asia.

The remarks were made by Centcom Commander Navy Admiral Bradford Cooper, who testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this week on the progress of 'Operation Epic Fury' - Washington's campaign against Iran that began on February 28 and is paused for now.

A statement issued after the briefing on May 14 also had remarks from Cooper on the US engagement in South and Central Asia.

He told the committee that the "shared" threat of external operations emanating from Afghanistan continued to be "an animating force among our par...