ISLAMABAD – Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in combating organised crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking, terrorism and illegal migration.
Russia’s interior minister visited Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, where the two ministers held a high-level meeting followed by delegation-level talks to discuss cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The meeting decided to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation and information sharing to prevent organised crime. Both sides also agreed to finalise agreements on extradition and the transfer of convicted criminals, while expediting the implementation of a readmission agreement.
The two countries further agreed to enhance cooperation between Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force and relevant Russian agencies. Working groups from the interior ministries of both countries will also visit each other’s countries soon to strengthen institutional ties.
The discussions also covered arrangements to facilitate the recruitment and deployment of skilled Pakistani workers in Russia and simplify visa procedures for tourists and business communities from both countries.
Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in preventing cybercrime and strengthen institutional links between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and Russia’s police academy.
Naqvi described the proposed agreement on combating organised crime as a major milestone in advancing bilateral cooperation. He said easing visa procedures would help strengthen people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
Pakistan also wanted to benefit from Russia’s experience in combating cybercrime, the interior minister said, adding that around 1,300 Pakistani students were currently studying in Russia. He expressed the desire to see more Pakistani students pursue education there.
Kolokoltsev stressed the need for joint efforts to combat organised crime in all its forms, including terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal migration.
He said Russia had reduced cybercrime by 33 per cent through effective measures.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan, senior officials of the Ministry of Interior, the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the commandant of the National Police Academy, the inspector general of the Frontier Constabulary, the director general of the National Forensics Agency, the director general of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the director general of passports, the chief commissioner, the Islamabad police chief and other senior officials also attended the meeting.