By Khawaja Hamza

NEW YORK, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Sri Lankan Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on counter-narcotics, policing, immigration, and transnational crime during a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters.

The two ministers agreed to enhance coordination against drug trafficking, expand cooperation in police training, and increase collaboration to curb illegal immigration and the use of forged passports. They also decided that the heads of immigration authorities of both countries would establish immediate contact to improve operational coordination.

The meeting also discussed a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on combating criminal networks and money laundering. Both sides agreed to establish a joint working group to deepen cooperation between their interior ministries and to prioritize the resolution of visa-related issues.