Mohsin Naqvi, Russian Interior Minister agree to boost cooperation against organized crime

ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (APP):Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev have agreed to strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and Russia in preventing organised crime, combating cybercrime and drug trafficking, and addressing illegal migration.

The two ministers held a meeting at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad, followed by delegation-level talks on areas of mutual interest.

During the meeting, both sides decided to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation and information sharing to prevent organised crime. They also agreed to finalise agreements on extradition and the exchange of criminals and to implement the readmission agreement at the earliest.

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 informed the meeting that Russia had reduced cybercrime by 33 per cent through effective measures.

The discussions focused on expanding cooperation between the two countries through agreements, information sharing, institutional coordination and the exchange of expertise in law enforcement.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, 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 were also present at the meeting.