By Khawaja Hamza
ISLAMABAD: Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev visited Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior and held an important meeting with Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The two interior ministers also held delegation-level talks and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation between Pakistan and Russia in law enforcement, security, crime prevention, and people-to-people contacts.
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 transfer of convicted criminals, while deciding to accelerate the implementation of the readmission agreement.
The two countries further agreed to enhance cooperation between Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force and the relevant Russian agencies to combat drug trafficking and related crimes.
Both sides agreed that working groups from the interior ministries of Pakistan and Russia would visit each other’s countries soon to advance cooperation and follow up on decisions taken during the meeting.
Discussions also covered the possibility of sending skilled Pakistani workers to Russia and simplifying visa procedures for tourists and business communities to facilitate travel, trade, and economic engagement between the two countries.
Cooperation in preventing cybercrime was another key area of discussion. Both sides agreed to strengthen institutional links between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and Russia’s police academy to promote professional training, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.
Speaking at the meeting, Mohsin Naqvi said that an agreement on preventing organised crime would prove to be an important milestone in promoting bilateral cooperation.
He said easing visa procedures would increase people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Russia and help strengthen relations between the two nations.
Naqvi also expressed Pakistan’s desire to benefit from Russia’s experience and expertise in combating cybercrime, emphasising the importance of learning from effective measures adopted by the Russian authorities.
The interior minister noted that approximately 1,300 Pakistani students were currently studying in Russia. He said Pakistan wanted to see more Pakistani students pursue higher education in Russian institutions.
Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev stressed that joint efforts were essential to prevent all forms of organised crime, including terrorism, drug smuggling, and illegal migration. He underscored the importance of closer cooperation and coordinated action between the two countries’ relevant institutions.
Kolokoltsev said Russia had reduced cybercrime by 33 per cent through effective measures, highlighting his country’s experience in addressing cyber-related threats.
The meeting reflected a shared commitment by Pakistan and Russia to deepen cooperation in law enforcement, improve information exchange, combat transnational criminal networks, and facilitate legitimate movement between the two countries.
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 Frontier Corps, 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, the Inspector General of Islamabad Police, and other senior officials were also present at the meeting.
