ISLAMABAD: Mohsin Naqvi, the federal interior minister of Pakistan, and Vladimir Kolokoltsev, the interior minister of Russia, have reached an agreement to enhance their collaboration in preventing organized crime, fighting drug trafficking and cybercrime, and dealing with illegal migration.
Following a meeting at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad, the two ministers discussed topics of common interest at the delegation level.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on collaboration and information sharing to counter organized crime was signed by both parties during the meeting. Additionally, they decided to execute the readmission agreement as soon as possible and finalize agreements on extradition and the exchange of prisoners.
The two countries agreed to enhance cooperation between Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force and relevant Russian agencies. They also decided that working groups from the interior ministries of both countries would visit each other soon to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The talks also covered the dispatch of skilled Pakistani workers to Russia and measures to facilitate visa procedures for tourists and members of the business community. Both sides agreed to increase cooperation in preventing cybercrime and strengthen institutional links between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and Russia’s police academy.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the agreement on preventing organised crime would serve as an important milestone in promoting cooperation between the two countries.
He said easing visa procedures would increase people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Russia. Naqvi added that Pakistan wanted to benefit from Russia’s experience in combating cybercrime.
The minister said around 1,300 Pakistani students were currently studying in Russia and expressed the desire to see more Pakistani students pursue their education there.
Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said joint measures were essential to prevent all forms of organised crime, including terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal migration.
He told the group that Russia has successfully decreased cybercrime by thirty-three percent.
Increasing collaboration between the two nations through agreements, information sharing, institutional coordination, and the sharing of law enforcement experience was the main topic of discussion.
The meeting was attended by Talal Chaudhry, the Minister of State for Interior, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan, special and additional secretaries 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 Corps (FC), the Director General of the National Forensic Agency, the Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the Director General of Passports, the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad, the Inspector General of Islamabad Police, and other senior officials.