Pakistan and Russia have agreed to strengthen security cooperation by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on information sharing to combat organised crime.
The two countries have also pledged to expedite agreements on extraditing wanted individuals, exchanging prisoners and implementing a readmission agreement.
The decisions were reached during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and visiting Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad.
During the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. They agreed to sign an MoU to facilitate the exchange of information and strengthen joint efforts against organised crime.
The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation between Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and relevant Russian agencies to tackle drug-related offences. The ministers said working groups from the interior ministries of both countries would soon visit each other’s nations to advance cooperation.
Naqvi said the agreement on combating organised crime would prove to be a significant milestone in strengthening ties between Pakistan and Russia.
Extradition, prisoner exchange agreements
The delegation-level discussions also focused on finalising agreements concerning the extradition of wanted individuals and the exchange of prisoners.
Both ministers agreed to accelerate work on these arrangements and speed up the implementation of the readmission agreement. The measures are intended to strengthen coordination between the two countries on law enforcement and related matters.
Visas and skilled manpower
The ministers also discussed opportunities to send skilled Pakistani workers to Russia and simplify visa procedures for tourists and members of the business community.
Naqvi said easing visa requirements would help strengthen people-to-people contacts between the two countries. The discussions reflected a shared interest in facilitating travel and expanding professional and commercial exchanges.
Preventing cybercrime was another key issue discussed during the meeting. Pakistan and Russia agreed to enhance cooperation between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and the Russian Police Academy to improve coordination and share relevant expertise.
Naqvi said Pakistan wanted to benefit from Russia’s experience in combating cybercrime. Kolokoltsev, meanwhile, said Russia had reduced cybercrime through effective measures.
The discussions highlighted both countries’ interest in learning from each other’s law enforcement practices and improving their capacity to address emerging digital threats.
Kolokoltsev is visiting Pakistan as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ interior ministries. His visit included a meeting with Naqvi at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad, followed by delegation-level talks.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan and senior officials from the relevant departments also attended the meeting.
