Pakistan, Russia agree on enhanced cooperation against illegal immigration, drug trafficking
WEB DESK: Pakistan and Russia on Saturday agreed to deepen cooperation in tackling illegal immigration and drug trafficking, as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Kolokoltsev on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Bishkek.
According to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, the two sides signed agreements aimed at strengthening coordination to curb illegal migration and facilitate the repatriation of citizens.
A separate accord was also reached to expand collaboration in counter-narcotics efforts and disrupt drug trafficking networks.
Naqvi is currently in Kyrgyzstan attending a special meeting of interior and public security ministers of SCO member states, where regional security, transnational crime and counter-terrorism cooperation remain key items on the agenda.
Regional security coordination
During the visit, Naqvi held a series of bilateral meetings with interior ministers of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, focusing on expanding law-enforcement cooperation and joint training initiatives.
In his meeting with Tajik Interior Minister Rahimzoda Ramazon Hamro, both sides discussed security challenges emanating from Afghanistan, with particular reference to the presence of militant networks and narcotics production.
The ministry said the two countries agreed that such developments pose serious threats to regional stability.
Separately, discussions with Uzbekistan’s Interior Minister Aziz Tashpulato centred on strengthening institutional cooperation, with the decision to form a working group to advance coordination between the two interior ministries.
SCO engagement and bilateral ties
Naqvi also met Kyrgyz Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov, where both sides agreed to broaden cooperation in areas of mutual interest. He also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and appreciated the arrangements for the SCO meeting.
In a separate meeting with Kazakh Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation on preventing illegal immigration and decided to establish a joint working group to institutionalise collaboration.
Addressing the SCO ministerial moot earlier, Naqvi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the “Shanghai spirit” and called for a coordinated regional strategy to counter terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime and terror financing.
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