ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday signed agreements with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Kolokoltsev, to enhance cooperation on illegal immigration, the repatriation of illegally residing citizens, and counter-narcotics cooperation.
According to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the signing took place during one of five separate bilateral meetings Naqvi held with his counterparts from Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
In his meeting with Tajikistan’s Interior Minister Ramazan Rahim Zada, discussions centred on terrorist camps inside Afghanistan, noting that there were 25 different terrorist organisations currently active in Afghanistan.
Both ministers agreed that terrorist camps and drug production in Afghanistan “pose serious security concerns for the region.”
Naqvi’s meeting with Uzbekistan’s Interior Minister Major General Aziz Tashpulatov focused on cooperation between law enforcement agencies and an exchange of views on joint training initiatives.
Talks with Kazakhstan’s Interior Minister Yergan Sadinov resulted in an agreement to enhance cooperation for preventing illegal immigration, with both sides deciding to establish a working group between the two ministries to increase mutual cooperation, the MoI stated.
In his meeting with Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Minister Niyaz Bekov Olan Omokanovich, an agreement was reached to increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Naqvi also congratulated his Kyrgyz counterpart on Kyrgyzstan’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and thanked him for the “excellent arrangements” for the SCO moot.
The interior minister is currently attending a Special Meeting of Interior Ministers and Public Security Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Addressing delegates at the moot a day earlier, Naqvi reaffirmed that Pakistan remained fully committed to the principles of the “Shanghai Spirit”, including mutual trust, equal partnership, and respect for sovereignty.
