Pakistan and Russia have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation against illegal immigration, as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from regional countries on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Kyrgyzstan.
Meeting with Russian Interior Minister
During a meeting with Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, the two sides agreed to strengthen collaboration aimed at preventing illegal immigration and facilitating the repatriation of citizens residing unlawfully in either country. The ministers also agreed to expand cooperation in combating narcotics trafficking and other drug-related crimes, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts to address transnational security challenges.
Discussions with Tajikistan
In a separate meeting with Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda, discussions focused on regional security concerns, particularly the presence of militant groups and narcotics production in Afghanistan. Both sides expressed concern over what they described as terrorist camps operating in Afghanistan and agreed that the production and trafficking of narcotics continued to pose serious threats to regional stability. The ministers noted that several militant organisations remained active in the country.
Meeting with Uzbekistan
Naqvi also met Uzbekistan’s Interior Minister, Major General Aziz Tashpulatov, to discuss cooperation between law enforcement agencies and opportunities for joint training programmes. The two countries agreed to establish a working group to enhance coordination between their interior ministries.
Talks with Kyrgyzstan
During talks with Kyrgyz Interior Minister Niyazbek Olan Omokanov, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and thanked the host country for organising the SCO interior ministers’ meeting.
Meeting with Kazakhstan
In his meeting with Kazakhstan’s Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov, the two sides agreed to intensify cooperation to prevent illegal immigration and decided to establish a joint working group to advance bilateral collaboration.
Shared Commitment
The meetings reflected a shared commitment among SCO member states to deepen cooperation on regional security, migration management and efforts to combat narcotics trafficking and organised crime.
